The aboriginal peoples agreed to preserve the caribou

Photo Courtesy François Léger-Savard
Seven aboriginal nations have announced that they had agreed to work on a plan for the preservation and management of caribou of the Ungava peninsula, in the foreground the head Denis Mestenapéo (innu Nation) and president Todd Russell (NunatuKavut).

Stephanie Gendron

Tuesday, 17 October 2017 17:44

UPDATE
Tuesday, 17 October 2017 17:50

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Seven aboriginal nations have signed a historic agreement which aims to save the caribou, because the decline of the herds is catastrophic, forcing even the end of sport hunting in outfitters of Northern Quebec.

The herds of caribou of the George river and Leaf river have declined dramatically since a few years.

Already, the seven nations, representing approximately 60 000 people, say they have taken actions to reduce hunting pressure on the animal, either by hunting at a minimum, by not hunting more or differently.

The Inuit and First Nations people of these seven nations have been hunting the animal for food, make shelter and clothing, in addition to the spiritual connection and cultural.

For the past four years, representatives of indigenous peoples met to develop an agreement that was formalized Tuesday.

Initiative

“We took the initiative to make the strategy ourselves rather than one we impose. The implementation will be much easier,” says Adamie Delisle Alaku, co-chair of the aboriginal round Table of the caribou of the Ungava peninsula.

For the moment, they have drawn up action plans, including a sharing agreement, aboriginal to a plan of monitoring and research and habitat management, but the terms and conditions on the ground remain to be defined. A follow-up of all that will be put in place is expected.

The director of the Society for nature and parks in Québec (SNAP), Alain Branchaud, believes that it is necessary to applaud to break the leadership shown by the aboriginal nations.

“For them, the signing of this agreement, it is a first step, but it is essential. It is a historical fact”, he believes.

Outfitters

Recall that the outfitters of Northern Quebec will no longer be able to offer the sport hunting of caribou, from next February, as a result of a decision of the government.

In order to avoid major financial losses, providers have reached out to the First Nations, by providing them with the opportunity to buy a limited number of hunting permits drawn from the same right to hunt guaranteed in return for a contribution in money or services, with the possibility of their return to the meat after the hunt.

“There has been some demonstration of interest, we are working on it. There is a possibility of a win, or at least that is what some people think,” said Marc Plourde, president and CEO of the Federation of outfitters of Quebec.

The door however seems to be closed on the side of the indigenous. “It’s been many years that we are trying to discuss with the outfitters, but they wanted nothing to know. And there, there’s no more hunting and it is there that they are trying to discuss with the rest of us. It is of value that they come at the last minute trying to find solutions to keep their lodge open,” said Adamie Delisle Alaku.

Herd of caribou on the George river

• 1993: 770 000
• 2010: 74 000
• 2017: 9000

Herd of caribou of the Leaf river

• 2001: 628 000
• 2015: 332 000
• 2016: 199 000