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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Bob McLeod, Industry, Tourism and Investment minister, was at Kalemi Dene school in Ndilo last week to unveil a new series of posters celebrating the Take a Kid Trapping Program.

McLeod was accompanied at the celebration on Friday morning by Weledeh MLA Bob Bromley, Dettah Chief Edward Sangris and Ndilo Chief Fred Sangris during a community feast held at the school.

"These posters commemorate the success this program has had over the years," said John Colford, manager of traditional economy, agriculture and fisheries at ITI.

"We run this program every year and we've had great success with it and it's tons of fun for the students," said Colford.

The Take a Kid Trapping Program has expanded in scope and size since it was first introduced in 2002 and is now happening in communities across the territory.

Designed to introduce youth in the NWT to the traditional harvesting practices of hunting, trapping, fishing and outdoor survival, that program has served more than 4,000 students so far, coaching them in a host of traditional skills and experiences.

The program is delivered to youth in the school system and through aboriginal organizations in co-operation with the territorial government and Dene First Nations. Many of the educators in the program are elders from NWT First Nation communities.

McLeod said it was fitting to be celebrating the success of the program at Kalemi Dene school, the place were the program was first introduced.

"I remember students from here visited a trap line, pulled fish nets and learned about preparing furs," said McLeod, "It's obviously very fitting that we are celebrating the success right back here at the Kalemi Dene school."

He thanked students at the school and principal Angela James for their involvement and praised the co-operation of local officials for their efforts from the very beginning of the program.

McLeod credited the work of Dene First Nations officials for help in the program and presented them with their own set of posters to take back to their community band offices.