Response to polar bear hunt decision within 30 days
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Coral Harbour (Jan 17/01) - The harpoon has been thrown back into the minister's court and he's going to take his time deciding what to do with it.
A Nunavut Court of Justice ruling earlier this month overturned former Sustainable Development Minister Peter Kilabuk's 1999 decision to disallow a traditional polar bear hunt using dogs and a harpoon.
Coral Harbour's Noah Kadlak made the request for the hunt, which was approved by the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board, with the intention of having it filmed by a southern production company.
Kilabuk disallowed the hunt saying it posed an unacceptable risk to public safety.
Minister of Sustainable Development Olayuk Akesuk says he is disappointed with the court's ruling.
He says the Nunavut Court of Justice acknowledged in its decision that the minister had the right to consider public safety in his decision.
"However, Justice Kilpatrick was not satisfied the minister had adequate reasons to disallow the hunt on the basis of public safety and overturned that decision," says Akesuk.
"The Government of Nunavut is currently studying the ruling with respect to the next step and I will refer a decision to the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board within 30 days."
Akesuk says while Nunavut's laws relating to wildlife have to be respectful of Inuit traditions, they also have to balance the needs of a modern Nunavut.
Akesuk says hunting methods would be best dealt with during upcoming public consultations on a new Nunavut Wildlife Act.
"We are now living in a modern world and need to deal with issues in a manner in keeping with modern society, while not turning our backs on tradition.
"We need to be a responsible government dealing with the needs of all people and making decisions for the common good. We have begun that process in co-operation with Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. and the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board."
