Yellowknife (Mar 21/03) - The three-legged polar bear image belongs to the NWT, deputy premier Jim Antoine said recently in the legislative assembly.

However, that has not stopped Sirius Diamonds from obtaining exclusive rights to use the image of a four-legged polar bear on its diamonds for the last four years.

"The three-legged polar bear is our trademark," Antoine told Great Slave MLA Bill Braden during question period Thursday, the final day of session.

Braden wanted to know if the deal with Sirius will effect how other businesses can use the image of the polar bear, a world-recognized symbol of the Arctic.

Until Sirius Diamonds came along, the GNWT "assumed" everyone knew the polar bear was the NWT official symbol, said Antoine.

"It's always been our trademark," Antoine said. "However, the legal aspect of it was overlooked."

The trademark details with Sirius Diamonds have been worked out, Antoine said. But Antoine added, "any other company that is manufacturing diamonds in the NWT could use a polar bear in their advertisements."