Yellowknife (Feb 04/02) - On the north shore of the North Arm there is a fort where the Metis go to touch the past that grounds them to the history of this place.

With money received from the Aboriginal Summit, the North Slave Metis Alliance will hold a meat-drying and hide-tanning workshop at Old Fort Rae this summer, on the northern shore of Great Slave Lake's North Arm.

"We've wanted to do this for some time," said Clem Paul, president of the North Slave Metis Alliance.

Paul said Metis elders wanted to hold a traditional workshop to pass on skills to the younger generation.

The exact date of the workshop will be discussed at an April retreat of the Metis leadership said Paul.

The Metis Alliance has been trying to set up this workshop since 1996.

"Right now there is not much of traditional stuff done," said Paul.

The Alliance will be video-taping the event.

So far they have moose, caribou and deer hides for tanning.

Paul said the workshop is open to members and non-members alike.

The hides will be sold at the end of the workshops "for cheap," said Paul.

Paul said the Metis have a long history of building in the North, from York plank boats to sleds.