Yellowknife (Aug 11/06) - Two communities in the Deh Cho are getting a helping hand to build trails.

Jean Marie River and Nahanni Butte are both receiving $10,000 from the Northwest Territories Trail Building Fund.

In Jean Marie River the money will be used to develop a 3.5 km trail starting at the Dene National Assembly site and running along the Jean Marie River to its junction with the Mackenzie River.

The idea for the trail was developed by Eric Sanguez, the recreation coordinator, and a number of the community's elders. The elders wanted the area kept natural and free from oil or gas development, said Sanguez.

The trail has always existed, but it's not developed, said Sanguez. When Jamie Bastedo and staff from the Northwest Territories Recreation and Parks Association visited Jean Marie River earlier in the summer, Sanguez took them down the trail and explained the goals. They helped develop a proposal for the fund.

Work will begin on the trail later this month. The $10,000 will be used to do slashing along the trail and develop three or four campsites near the Mackenzie River, said Sanguez. Some of the work will be done by the summer students in the community.

The trail is already used by youth who go fishing. When finished, the trail will also be suitable for skiing. The look will be kept natural, said Sanguez.

"The scenery is really good because it overlooks the Jean Marie River," he said.

In Nahanni Butte the $10,000 will be used for a new 4.5 km long hiking trail as well as upgrades to campsites and fire pits.

The trail will be used for community members to give guided walks to tour groups. They will answer questions about local plants and wildlife and tell stories, according to band staff.

The Northwest Territories Trail Building Fund was established through funding provided by the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs and the Trans Canada Trail Foundation. The primary goal is to allow communities to build new trails so they can promote physical activity, said Ian Legaree, the director of the sports recreation and youth division of MACA.

Proposals are judged on a criteria that meets the goal of creating physical activity, and their practicality, said Legaree. This was the second year for the fund. Fifteen projects in 12 communities have been approved for a total of $129,912.

Funding will be made available until 2010 and then the project will be re-evaluated, Legaree said.