Nti says returning to court still an option
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Coral Harbour (Mar 05/01) - The polar bear hunt saga is over, for now.
Nunavut Tunngviak Inc. has no immediate plans to challenge the decision to deny a Coral Harbour hunter's request for a traditional polar bear hunt.
Sustainable Development Minister Olayuk Akesuk denied the hunt -- he is the third minister to do so -- out of fear for public safety.
His decision came after a court ruling that said not allowing the hunt infringed on Inuit rights granted in the Land Claims Agreement.
"The right to conduct a traditional hunt was acquired through the Lands Claim Agreement and given to all Inuit, whomever they may be," says NTI president Paul Quassa.
"The NWMB or the minister may want to see this as a one-case incident, but those who follow will also have to be viewed as people exercising their right according to the Final Agreement."
He adds that NTI is going to try to negotiate a resolution with the minister.
"It's the role of the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board (NWMB) to make decisions on non-quota limitations, which include identifying conditions for letting a hunt such as this go ahead," says Quassa.
"The NWMB put strong conditions in place when it originally decided to allow Noah Kadlak's traditional polar bear hunt.
The NWMB is quite capable of coming up with conditions to meet the minister's concerns and allow the hunt to proceed."
Quassa says NTI will not directly advise Kadlak to draw up a new proposal. He says the NWMB should handle consultations on the hunt, including elders, NTI and Sustainable Development.
He adds that if an agreement to allow the hunt can't be reached through negotiation, NTI has made it clear going back to court is still an option.
"We still have a court ruling supporting our argument which the minister did not appeal, so there is existing case law recognizing Inuit rights to conduct a hunt using traditional methods are protected by the constitution."
