Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5
Page 6
Page 7
Page 8
Page 9
Page 10
Page 11
Page 12
Page 13
Page 14
Page 15
Page 16
Page 17
Page 18
Page 19
Page 20
Page 21
Page 22
Page 23
Page 24
IndustryTraditionalEconomy22TuesdayNovember262013ByMEAGANWOHLBERGCloseto30trappingenthu-siastspackedintotheEnviron-mentandNaturalResourcesENRshopinFortSmithlastThursdayeveningtoexchangeideaslearntherulesandeco-nomicsoftheindustryandgettipsfromtheexpertsatthedepartmentsannualtrappingworkshop.RenewableresourceofcerDannyBeaulieuofFortProv-idenceledthesessionwhichexplainedtherulesofobtain-ingatraplinehumanetrap-pingpracticespeltpricesthefurauctionprocessandhowtogetnancialassistancealongwithBeaulieusownpersonaltipsforsuccessfultrapping.BeaulieuwhorecentlygavesimilarworkshopsinFortProvi-denceandKakisabeforecom-ingtoFortSmithsaidhisgoalistopromoteboththemoneymakingandlifestyleaspectsoftheage-oldtrade.IdoitbecauseIdontwanttheindustrytodie-thatsthethinghetoldTheJournal.ThefurtrademadetheNorth-westTerritories.Itwasntdia-mondsitwasntgold.Itwasthefurtradebusiness.Myfamilymygreat-great-greatgrandfa-thercameupfromManitobatoFortResolutionin1750andworkedfortheHudsonsBay.ThetrappingandfurtradeIguessisinmyblood.BeforestartingtoworkforENR13yearsagoBeaulieusaidhespentmostofhislifetrappingfull-timeinthewinterandsupplementingthatincomewithdifferentsummerwork.Youcanmakemoneyatitifyouarentafraidofsomehardwork.Itsnoteasyworkbutitsfun.Itsfuntobeoutonthelandinthefreshair...Itsareallygoodlifestyle.Hesaidthebeautyoftrap-pingispeoplecanalwaysfallbackonitasawaytomakealivingregardlessofeducation.Theresalotofyoungpeo-plewhodropoutofschoolandhavenothingtodoandtrap-pingdoesntrequireeducation-itrequiressomebecauseyouneedtoknowsomestuff-butatleasttheyhavesomethingreallygoodtofallbackoniftheyknowhowtotraphesaid.IvetrappedbasicallyallmylifeandIalwaysknowIcangobacktothis.Tokeepthefurin-dustrygoingandtohavegoodprogramssothetrappercanmakeititsawonderfulthingtoseethattheresstillpeoplewillingtoworkatit.TheNWTisseeingare-boundinthetraditionalecon-omy.Lastyeartrapperssetre-cordsforthehighestnumberofsalesandvolumeofpeltsseeninthepastdecadebringinginatotalofmorethan2.3millionwitharound2500peltssold.IdidaworkshopinFortProvidencewehad30peoplethereBeaulieusaid.IdidaworkshopinKakisaandwehad17peopleinalittlecom-munity.Heretheofcersweretellingmewemighthaveveorsixpeopleandwehave25peoplehere.Theresalotofinterestagain.Beaulieusaidpricesaregoodwhichisattractivebutpeoplearealsobecomingmoreinterestedinthelife-styleaswell.Yourenotgoingtoloseattrapping.Gasisexpensivebutnowtheyhaveskidoosthatarealittleeasierongasandyoudontreallyhavetogofar.TheresacoupleofkidsinFortProvidencewhojustgooutfromthecommunitywalkingandcatchafewmartens.Allyouneedistolearnhowtodoitandwiththeseworkshopsweteachpeoplehowtostart.Beaulieusaidheoftenlearnsjustasmuchfromthework-shopsastheparticipantswhentrappersstartexchangingtheirideasandinnovationsfromboilingsnarestousingboxestotrapmarten.Youlearnalotfromjustbeingaroundtrappersfornewideashesaid.Someyoungpeoplethewheelsareturn-ingandtheygetintoit.Itjustworkswell.ENRwillbehostingan-othertrappingworkshopinFortResolutionthisThursdayfrom100-800p.m.atthehall.WorkshoppromotestrappingasjobandlifestylePhotosMeaganWohlbergTrapperLouieBeaulieuofFortSmithdemonstrateshowtoskinafoxatENRstrapperworkshoplastThursday.BradBourqueshowshisgrandsonthevariouspeltstretch-ersusedfordifferentanimalsfromwolvestofoxes.RenewableresourceofcersDannyBeaulieurightandCheyeannePaulettegivework-shopparticipantshelpfultipsonsettingabeavertrap.ENRofcerDannyBeaulieuwhohasspentthemajorityofhislifetrappingpresentstheinsandoutsofhowtosuccessfullytrapfull-timeintheNorthwestTerritories.