Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jun 28/99) - Baffin hunters and trappers are complaining about the bargain-basement prices they're getting for bears killed during research and industrial activity.

Hunters and trappers associations are compensated for bears killed in their areas because the bears are counted against their hunting quotas.

Compensation from government during polar bear research is outlined in memorandums of understanding signed between the territorial government and the HTAs about three years ago. Under those agreements, communities are paid $1,500 for each bear killed during research, the average price of a hide.

On the other hand, Parks Canada, said delegates, pay $5,000 for bears killed during research.

But at a Qikitaaluk Wildlife Board meeting last week, HTO representatives said that does not come close to matching the $15,000 to $20,000 that comes into the community as a result of a sport hunt.

Sustainable development polar bear biologist Peter Krizan said the department is prepared to listen to concerns HTOs may have.

"We'd be happy to meet with you and discuss the options of the MOU...this is not the first time I've heard some communities have signed MOUs without having a full understanding of what's in it," said Krizan. He added that if the HTOs want their concerns with the agreements addressed, they must put them in writing.

Krizan noted data collected during the recently completed Baffin Bay polar bear study is being analyzed. The department will be meeting with Baffin communities to discuss the study results "within the next 12 months," said Krizan.

"The main reason (for dissatisfaction) is that the MOUs were signed by previous board members," said Joannie Ikkidluak, chairman of the Qikitaaluk Wildlife Board. "The problems came up when new members came in who were dissatisfied with the MOUs."

The agreements ran for a five-year term. There is between a year and two years remaining on them.

The MOUs do not apply to bears killed during other research or during any kind of development.

Secretary-manager of the Amarok Hunters and Trappers Association Sytukie Joamie said an agreement needs to be hammered out with the Qikitaaluk Corp. to compensate for bears killed during the clean-up of Resolution Island.

Qikitaaluk Corp. is overseeing the clean-up and last year it and the association agreed on $5,000 per bear. No agreement has been signed this year. Joamie said one should be and that compensation should more accurately reflect the loss of sport hunting dollars.

"It's a business deal," said Joamie. "It's better for QC as developer to have something on hand before something happens."

Without a deal, under the Nunavut Land Claim the HTA would submit a claim for a bear loss to the developer. If no agreement is reached in 30 days, the Nunavut Surface Rights Tribunal would determine what compensation would be paid.