Kevin Wilson
Northern News Services

Cambridge Bay (Oct 08/01) - People affected by the coming moratorium on hunting polar bears from the M'Clintock Channel population should have a clearer picture of what the future holds for them this week.

The three affected communities -- Gjoa Haven, Taloyoak, and Cambridge Bay -- begin meetings with the officials from the territorial Department of Sustainable Development and the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board this Tuesday.

"We have it on our agenda, and hopefully, we'll know a lot more after the meetings," said Philip Kadlun, president of the Kitikmeot Hunters and Trappers Association.

The wildlife board drastically cut quotas of M'Clintock polar bears after studies revealed the population is much smaller than previously believed.

A total moratorium on hunting M'Clintock polar bears will be observed in 2002.

Since the moratorium was announced, a traditional knowledge study has been launched in Gjoa Haven, which has no access to other polar populations, unlike the other communities.

"Gjoa Haven has been really affected," said Kadlun, who added, "Cambridge Bay has the Viscount Melville Sound population and Taloyoak has the Gulf of Boothia population, but Gjoa Haven doesn't."

The meetings end Saturday.