Caribou co-operation

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NORTHERN NEWS SERVICE

Outfitters and First Nations must work together if caribou tourism is to survive.

First, both parties must quit playing the blame game and realize the most important thing: caribou are an important Northern renewable resource.

Unlike diamond mines, precious metals, oil and gas, carefully managed caribou herds will continue to roam the NWT when the non-renewable resources are exhausted. North Slave outfitters shouldn't be surprised they're first on the caribou crisis chopping block.

After all, slashing outfitter tags by 70 per cent is the only thing the territorial government can do as it struggles to find a solution to plummeting herds.

Still, this $4 million annual industry generates more than 300 seasonal jobs and remains an important part of the North Slave economy. It's too important to let die.

On the other hand, First Nations have a constitutionally-protected right to hunt for food.

Figuring out how many caribou First Nations harvest each year is a bit of a guessing game, however. Estimates range from 5,000 to 20,000 animals.

While the food hunt cannot be stopped, aboriginal hunters must realize that the hunt has changed with the times. Hunters can go out and find the herds aboard planes and high powered snowmachines.

With that capability, Dene must show responsibility to protect and manage the herd. The first step is to count the number of animals harvested annually.

As Yellowknives Dene Chief Fred Sangris says, the caribou are a First Nations resource. So why can't the Yellowknives, North Slave Metis and Tlicho start managing the hunt and help outfitters at the same time?

North Slave outfitters had 1,243 tags last year but will only get 350 tags this year.

These hunters, mostly wealthy southerners, are only here for the experience of the hunt. Along the way, they stay in area hotels, buy souvenirs and fill airline seats. The meat, about 40,000 pounds last year, is donated to communities and the food bank.

First Nations could authorize outfitters to hunt some of their caribou on their behalf for a price. That money and the meat from each caribou bagged could go to families who can't get onto the land. If each tag sold for $500, that's a lot of cash to buy other food for the table.

That way, families will get some cash and meat and outfitters will continue to attract hunters North, preserving this important part of our tourism industry.

We have to do something to preserve caribou herds, but that doesn't have to mean gutting the outfitting industry.

It will just take co-operation and creativity.