The Sherpa reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Sherpa

A sherpa is one of the mountain people of Nepal. By extension, the name can also apply to a guide or porter hired for climbing expeditions in the Himalayas.

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By extension, sherpa is the name given to the personal representatives of heads of state and government within the G8 process: the metaphor is that the "sherpa" prepares the way toward the "summit". One or more "sherpa meetings" are generally held in preparation for summits.

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