Bears, hunters know no boundaries
Kirsten Murphy
Northern News Services
Grise Fiord (Apr 06/01) - Greenland hunters will likely continue harvesting polar bears meant for Canadian hunters, despite a historic meeting between the two countries.
Rumours of Greenlanders hunting on Canadian soil have persisted over the years. A recent meeting between Inuit hunters and Greenland government officials in Qaanaaq, Greenland, confirmed rumours of the kills and resulted in further meeting.
"Greenland has killed some of the bears our hunters harvest," said Paul Irngaut, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.'s public relations advisor. Irngaut attended the two-day meeting with Nunavut Wildlife Management Board representatives and Grise Fiord hunters.
It was the first public admission of the rumored kills. When pressed for specific numbers, Irngaut said the Qaanaaq representatives did not disclose the numbers.
"By law, they (Greenland hunters) have to submit ear tags. Their scientists are always in contact with our scientists (so we know)," he said.
"Now what we want to know is how many are being harvested and their use."
The question that remains is whether or not Qaanaaq hunters are crossing Baffin Bay to hunt on Ellesmere Island because they've over-harvested polar bears in their own country.
Greenland reported a 50 per cent drop in the number of bears harvested over the last three years; from 142 polar bear kills in 1998 to 76 in 2000.
Bad weather, seasonal harvesting restrictions and hunting by dog-team were the reasons given for the dwindling numbers, said Irngaut. A follow-up meeting with Greenland is tentatively scheduled for 2002.
Inuit hunters from Grise Fiord are perhaps the most affected by the foreign kills.
"Of course we're somewhat concerned about Greenlanders coming to hunt because they don't have quotas," said Marty Kuluguqtuq, Grise Fiord's assistant senior administrative officer and a member of the local hunters and trappers association.
"It's a small world, but a huge wilderness."
Although it did not stop the kills, the meeting was seen as a positive first step.
"We're pleased because it's the first time for dialogue between Grise Fiord and the hunters of Qaanaaq," he said.
