THE LABRADORIAN
NUNATSIAVUT
The Nunatsiavut Government (NG) wants all harvesting of the George River caribou herd to cease.
In a press release on Friday, Dec. 14, the indigenous government reaffirmed their position and applauded indigenous groups from Quebec who recently called for a ban as well.
“Caribou is a part of our cultural identity which has helped to sustain our people for thousands of years as a valuable source of food, clothing and tools,” said NG Lands and Natural Resources Minister Tony Andersen in the release. “However, we have reached a point where the George River herd is struggling to survive and sacrifices have to be made if there is to be any hope of recovery.”
The release referenced a census conducted by biologists from Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec this summer with the direct participation of Indigenous representatives from both provinces. That census, which released its results in September, estimates the herd at 5,500 animals, a 38 per cent decline from 2016.
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According to the release, while NG anticipated a decline in numbers, the census results came as a shock.
“Never did we think the decline would be as much as it was, and we can only attribute it to continued harvesting activities,” Andersen said.
NG said they held meetings with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Innu Nation and the Nunatukavut Community Council leading up to and following the release of the census results and stated they believe all harvesting should cease.
NG is part of the Ungava Peninsula Caribou Aboriginal Round Table (UPCART), a partnership of six indigenous nations from this province and from. UPCART called for all hunting to cease in 2017.
In recent weeks the Cree and the Inuit of Quebec have publicly called for all harvesting to cease.
The Innu Nation is the only indigenous group in Labrador that is not part of UPCART. They were a member but withdrew in January of 2018.
“We are pleased to see other Indigenous nations support our position, and we call on others who have traditionally harvested George River caribou to follow suit,” said Andersen. “We remain committed to working with all members of UPCART, as well as the Innu Nation, to create a path forward that will hopefully see the herd recover to a point where we can all continue to maintain our cultural connections to this vital resource.”
NG is asking all beneficiaries to adhere to the harvesting moratorium and calling for stricter enforcement measures.
“The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador put the ban in place, but is refusing to enforce it because it is more concerned about the political backlash it will receive than it is about protecting the future of the George River caribou,” Andersen said.
