Yellowknife (June 13/03) - There's enough money for sports in the NWT to go around.

That's what the Aboriginal Sports Circle of the Western Arctic (ASCWA) said earlier this week.

The problem is with the current system, said the chairperson of ASCWA.

"The present system spends too much time and financial resources on administration, staffing and internal operations," said Julian Landry.

The group wants to finish working with the government and other organizations on the new sports and recreation board.

"We support a new structure that would work to ensure an equitable distribution of resources," said Landry during an interview on Tuesday.

Sport North has questioned the implementation process of the new board, and threatened to walk out if the government doesn't pay attention to its concerns.

The organization has agreed to look at the way sports was governed in the North and has participated fully in the process.

Sport North thinks the new board answers some questions, but raises some more.

"With the mechanism in place we try to provide sport to everybody. We wouldn't deny that we would like to improve on that but we think the existing system has addressed the situation," said Abe Theil, president of Sport North.

However, the ASCWA thinks otherwise.

"For the past 30 years the NWT sport system has failed the aboriginal athletes, particularly those from the smaller communities," said Landry.

Sport North met with the minister responsible for municipal and community affairs this week. A meeting with all parties involved is scheduled for June 25.