Dez Loreen
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Oct 24/05) - After hunters questioned low caribou herd numbers, the government announced a recount.

Environment Minister Michael Miltenberger said he hopes the new study will prove that harvest regulations are needed to protect the caribou.

"We'll follow the same procedures as last time," said Miltenberger.

The last survey finished in September. Satellite collars tracked the herds, and satellite imagery was used to get a reasonable count.

"Once the caribou had gathered, field researchers took photos," said Miltenberger.

The results from the September survey found that three major caribou herds in the Territories were drastically declining in numbers.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources took those numbers to Mackenzie Delta and Sahtu communities and co-management committees.

The Sahtu, Gwich'in and Inuvialuit held information sessions, where aboriginal hunters were given the bad news.

After a meeting in Whitehorse, Inuvialuit hunter Joseph Arey said the decline was shocking.

"I had no clue the situation was that bad. I hadn't noticed much of a difference in my hunting," said Arey.

Faced with doubts and questions about the method of counting caribou, the government needed to take action, according to Miltenberger.

"If we repeated the same numbers again, it would give our method credibility."

Even with the recount, Miltenberger has asked co-management boards to come up with recommendations to deal with declining populations.

"The three regions in question have co-management boards, and they will give their ideas on how to solve this," said Miltenberger.

For Sahtu co-management chair Walter Bayha, it's all about what his communities want.

"We're still in the process of gathering their thoughts," said Bayha.

"The information is still being given to the communities."

Bayha added that given the size of the Sahtu region, there could be many good ideas.

"There are three districts in the region," said Bayha.

"All districts have many options to give as recommendations."

Reducing the caribou harvest might be an option, said Bayha.

"There are plenty of other animals to harvest, like moose, or sheep."

Bayha added that traditional foods like caribou aren't in big demand for the younger generation.

"Country foods aren't really in the diets of the young people in the Sahtu."

Miltenberger hopes the information will get back to him soon, so a decision can be made about the herds.

"We want to move on these recommendations this November," said Miltenberger.

The new survey will take about a year to complete.

The results should be announced in the early fall of 2006.