SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Fourteen out of 18 caribou carcass seized weeks ago in the no-hunting zone north of Yellowknife have been distributed to elders in Ndilo and Dettah, according to a spokesperson with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Judy McLinton, manager of public affairs and communications for the department, said one of those carcasses was given to elders in Ndilo and Dettah Monday.

The caribou were seized by wildlife officers from Yellowknives hunters between Jan.16 and Jan. 28, near Gordon Lake, some 90 km northeast of Yellowknife. Hunting from the Bathurst caribou herd was banned Jan. 1 by Environment minister Michael Miltenberger in effort to protect their dwindling numbers, which the government says dropped to 30,000 animals last year from 186,000 in 2006.

McLinton said the department was holding the remaining four carcasses until they could be distributed at a later date.

"They have space to hold them so we're doing so," said McLinton.

The six Yellowknives hunters, including Dene national chief Bill Erasmus, had originally wanted the meat back, and went to court twice in an attempt to have it returned.

On Feb. 17, justice of the peace Greg Merrithew ruled the hunters could have their meat back, which was stored and frozen in an Environment and Natural Resources facility.

But the hunters changed their minds, expressing concerns about the length of time that had passed and fear that the meat had been contaminated.

McLinton said no caribou have been seized since January, adding it's likely people haven't been hunting because "there aren't that many animals out there."

A meeting between the territorial government and the Yellowknives Dene is expected to take place this week to discuss a potential controlled hunt for the First Nations group, but McLinton said no date has been set as of Monday.