Yellowknife (Oct 18/06) - Protests against the Conservative government program funding cuts continued in Yellowknife last Thursday.

Dene National chief Bill Erasmus, left, and MP Dennis Bevington protest Tory cutbacks.

Western Arctic MP Dennis Bevington joined Dene National Chief Bill Erasmus to lead the march along Franklin Avenue from 48th Street to the Diamond Plaza.

Representatives from organizations that have had their funding slashed, including the NWT Literacy Council, Volunteer NWT, and the Federation Franco-tenois, participated in the protest.

The federal Conservative government announced $1 billion in funding cuts on Sept. 25 to help pay down the national debt.

Program cuts include an anti-smoking program for First Nations and Inuit, the Court Challenges program, and funding for literacy programs. Bevington likened the "mean-spirited" cuts to "picking the wings off of flies."

Erasmus said a special assembly of the Dene Nation will take place in Fort Good Hope this week to discuss the cuts and their impacts.