SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Dene National Chief Bill Erasmus says is unsure whether he will be prosecuted after he and other hunters violated a no hunting ban for Bathurst caribou.

Dene National Chief Bill Erasmus speaks at a press conference on Monday where he wondered whether he will be charged for hunting Bathurst caribou last week. - Adrian Lysenko/NNSL photo

The hunters, including Erasmus, had three caribou seized by wildlife officers last Thursday while hunting at Gordon Lake, 90 km northeast of Yellowknife.

The violation is in Erasmus' name and he is not sure whether if he will be prosecuted or if the ticket is simply a written warning.

The action on the bottom of the ticket read, "to be advised."

"We went hunting because we have no meat," said Erasmus at a press conference on Monday. "We have the right to hunt."

Erasmus and other Dene chiefs have been arguing that the territorial government doesn't have the authority to stop them from hunting caribou since the ban went into effect Jan. 1. The ban covers an area twice the size of New Brunswick, about 120,000 square km.

Chiefs have been asking the federal government to intervene, but when asked Monday, an official with the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs said the territorial government has jurisdiction over wildlife.

"This is a matter between the government of the NWT and the aboriginal harvester," said Indian and Northern Affairs spokesperson Genevieve Guibert, in regards to the caribou ban.

"Wildlife management issues come under the authority of the territorial government."

Erasmus said if the matter does not involve the federal government then it should stay out of the North.

"Let's make it clear what their role is," said Erasmus.

Ndilo Chief Ted Tsetta accused wildlife officers of searching hunters' cabins without their permission. He added they should have a warrant to search vehicles and sleds.

"The NWT government have done a poor job managing the situation of the caribou," said Tsetta.

Erasmus said the government has put too much emphasis on protecting the Bathurst herd, and not the species of barren ground caribou as a whole.

"Conservation is being used to starve our people," said Erasmus.

"The herd is not extinct and not endangered. We shouldn't talk about it as a herd we should talk about it as a species."

Erasmus said he believes there are still large numbers of caribou in the North, and claims one hunter near Brown Lake, north of Gordon, saw more than 300 caribou recently.

The territorial government estimates the number of Bathurst caribou has dropped to 32,000 animals - down from 128,000 in 2006.

Erasmus said he plans to attend a Justice of the Peace hearing in Yellowknife on Feb. 16 In attempt to get the seized meat back.