Sachs Harbour (Sep 22/03) - Indian and Northern Affairs Canada turned over $470,000 to the Inuvialuit Community Economic Development Organization last month to develop a muskox harvesting program.

Sachs Harbour and the Inuvialuit Development Corp., partners in the muskox program, will use the money to bring electricity to a meat processing plant and research transportation options.

"The money will allow us to remove some obstacles; it will makes us more competitive in the meat industry," said Murray Arsenault, manager of community economic development for the Inuvialuit Development Corp.

"It helps us with operations and to get us started," said Andy Carpenter, Jr., president of the Sachs Harbour Hunter and Trappers Committee. "We have an abundance of muskox on this island and it's good for the community economically."

The harvest is usually during the darker months of the year. The electricity will be used to light the corral and the processing equipment, said Arsenault.

So far the community has harvested muskox three or four times, said Carpenter.

Another harvest is planned for sometime this fall.