Yellowknife (July 16/04) - The Ingraham Trail is a mess. "The trail's a mess, and we should do this," said Margaret Peterson while cleaning kilometre 13 over the weekend.

"It really needs cleaning up."

Forty-five individuals and families pitched in to clean the entire trail last weekend as part of the Ingraham Trail Clean Up Committee's annual assault on litter.

They found everything from abandoned cooking grills to paper plates, bottles and cans.

The weekend litter blitz is part of an arrangement between the Ingraham Trail Clean Up Committee and the Transportation department, which is responsible for cleaning the Trail.

"We're responsible for 30 metres from each side of the centre line on the highway," said Michael Conway, regional superintendent for the North Slave Region.

The department provides the bags for the clean up and collects all the garbage after the volunteers bag it.

"We really value the help," Conway said.

Government crews do not clean litter from the trail, but they will pick up environmental or safety hazards, said Conway.

Not enough being done

Littering on highways is illegal. People can be charged under the motor vehicles act and can be fined up to $86 for the offence said Conway.

"This is specific to highways," Conway said.

Some groups feel not enough is being done to enforce the laws.

Fred Sangris, community negotiator for the Yellowknives Dene whose territory includes the Ingraham Trail, said legal action may be taken to limit off-road use of the area by non-Dene if littering, destruction of forests, and encroachment on Dene territory continues.

"It's the responsibility of the federal and territorial governments to maintain the land," said Sangris.

The threat of restricted access has Trail residents concerned.

"I don't want to see people restricted out there," Strong said. "It's our home as well."

The fact that Trail residents are out there every year cleaning other peoples' garbage proves their dedication to the land, said Strong.

She would rather work in a partnership with the Yellowknives to address trail issues than see access limited.