Two N.W.T. Olympians gifted gloves and moccasins

Two N.W.T. Olympians heading to Sochi, Russia will not only be clad in Canada's coloursbut also northern culture.

Speed skater Michael Gilday and biathlete Brendan Green have each been given a pair of handmade gloves and moccasins gifts from theterritorial government.

It's a gesture to bring the athletesluck, but also to draw attention to one of the territory's oldest industries.

"They are absolutelygorgeous,"saysspeed skater MichaelGilday."Just having them with me will remind me of where I am from and remind me of the people at home that are supporting me and encouraging me all the way to the finish line,"

The moose hide gauntlets and moccasins have the territorial crest beaded on themand aretrimmed with beaver fur,materials northerners have relied on for generations.

The territory commissioned threeartists fromDeline, N.W.T. to make the gifts.

GinaNeyellewas one of them. She saysmany people in Deline wanted to get a close up look at the gifts and touch them for good luck.

Francois Rossouw hopes others around the globe admire them as well.He markets the territory's Genuine Mackenzie Valley fur label and was surprised to find out Team Canada's uniforms,made by The Hudson's Bay Company,don't include fur.

"I found that really insulting considering that Canada is the largest wild fur producing country in the world," saysRossouw.

But people won't be able to spot the giftson television.The athletes are only allowed to wear clothing provided by Team Canada's sponsors to media events.

Gilday plans to show them off duringhis down time in the athletes' village.

"It's good for people to realize that traditional economies are still going strong and being practised inresponsible ways," he says.