Yukon MLA blames N.W.T. hunters for Dempster Highway caribou hunt

Wed Sep 10, 6:05 PM

Vuntut Gwich'in Liberal MLA Darius Elias says he blames hunters from the Northwest Territories for a large-scale caribou hunt that took place last week on the Yukon side of the Dempster Highway.

Elias also blasted the Yukon government for removing a 500-metre "no hunting" corridor along the Yukon side of the Dempster, which runs through the Yukon and the Northwest Territories.

But Elias, whose riding includes the northern Yukon community of Old Crow and the Vuntut Gwich'in First Nation, said he believes aboriginal hunters in the N.W.T. are further endangering the Porcupine caribou herd by crossing over to the Yukon side and taking animals from there.

"To the leaders of the Northwest Territories, you have to talk to your people," Elias told CBC News on Tuesday.

"Talk to these people that are harvesting in this manner because this is not traditional harvesting."

Elias is part of a delegation in Washington, D.C., this week, trying to convince U.S. politicians to give permanent protection to the herd's calving grounds in Alaska.

He said the delegation's arguments get undercut when hunters take more caribou than they need. Having a no-hunting corridor along the Dempster Highway could have prevented such large-scale hunts, he added.

"We don't know where the herd is at in terms of its population or health, and this type of hunting is wrong," he said.

The Yukon government dropped the 500-metre corridor in September 2007, in order to avoid a legal challenge by the Tr'ondek Hw'echin First Nation of Dawson City.

Yukon conservation officers said they believe last week's hunt was done well off the Dempster Highway, therefore making it legal.

As for caribou hunting regulations, Environment Minister Elaine Taylor said the territorial government can't make or change such regulations without the support of all First Nations involved.

"The government has been one of eight respective parties at the table," she said.

Taylor added that the government is still working out a long-term management plan for the Porcupine caribou herd.

In the meantime, extra conservation offers are being sent out to the Dempster Highway to ensure any caribou hunting is being done safely, and meat is not being wasted in the process.

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/cbc/080910/canada/north_dempster_caribou