Chief sets record straight on caribou ban
Ed Sangris says he doesn't support total prohibition but acknowledges Yellowknives may see 150-tag quota cut in half
Mike W. Bryant
Northern News Services
Published Friday, January 9, 2015
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Dettah Chief Ed Sangris says he would never support a ban on hunting caribou although, as far as the Bathurst herd is concerned, he acknowledges that Yellowknives Dene hunters might see their quota cut in half should a harvest agreement be reached with the territorial government.
Ed Sangris: Dettah chief says it appears likely Yellowknives Dene will only receive 75 tags this winter. |
"I've been adamantly opposed to an outright total ban from the beginning," said Sangris. "I cannot turn my back on our treaty rights since time immemorial. The elders have been telling me, 'Don't ever support a total ban on hunting caribou because we have to keep up our treaty rights.'"
That said, it appears more and more likely the Yellowknives Dene First Nation must accept a greatly reduced harvest this winter if it wishes to continue hunting the Bathurst caribou migrating to the north and east of Yellowknife.
Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) Minister Michael Miltenberger announced a total ban on hunting of the Bathurst herd on Dec. 19 after negotiations with aboriginal groups failed to result in agreement on how many caribou can be hunted this winter.
Miltenberger sought a new management plan for the Bathurst herd after surveys predicted their numbers may drop to as few as 15,000 animals this year – a 97 per cent drop since 1986 when 460,000 caribou were counted.
Sangris told Yellowknifer earlier this week that the arrival of diamond mines along the Bathurst caribou migration route has caused the herd to splinter and join up with other herds, such as the Ahiak and Bluenose East.
He also speculated that Yellowknife's rising population over the years has contributed to its demise as more non-aboriginal resident hunters sought them out. Harvest information found in the 2014 NWT sport hunting licence guide shows the highest estimated number of barrenground caribou hunted annually by resident hunters since 1983 was less than 2,000 animals in 1992/93. Estimates have not exceeded 1,000 caribou since 2001/02.
ENR had been issuing 300 tags per year to aboriginal hunters for Bathurst caribou inside a 70,000-square kilometre hunting zone north of Yellowknife since 2010. One-hundred-and-fifty tags were given to the Tlicho while the other half went to the Yellowknives.
Sangris said he was told by officials with the department that the quota may be reduced to 75 tags each this winter should Miltenberger rescind the ban.
A meeting with the department is scheduled for today where Sangris said he is optimistic that an agreement can be reached this time.
He said the 75 tags will be offered on a first-come, first-serve basis from the Yellowknives band office with a maximum of one tag per household. If hunters are unsuccessful, they're expected to return their tags so someone else can try.
"Three-hundred-and seventy-five people want to go hunting," said Sangris. "We'll only get 75 so we got to give other people the chance."
In the meantime, Sangris said he's been telling community members to avoid hunting caribou in the Bathurst zone.
"We've been telling our members that until we do get the tags, and an agreement, they're encouraged to go hunting some place else," said Sangris.
