GNWT and Indigenous leaders call for respectful harvesting amid rising caribou wastage

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT), alongside Indigenous governments, Indigenous organizations and wildlife co-management partners, are urging harvesters to follow respectful harvesting practices as reports of illegal caribou wastage along the Tibbitt to Contwoyto Winter Road continue to rise.

So far this winter road season, at least 48 caribou have been wasted, including 22 pregnant cows where most only had the backstraps taken. This marks a significant increase in illegal harvesting compared to previous years. The GNWT and Indigenous governments and Indigenous organizations are taking action to reinforce responsible harvesting practices and strengthen conservation efforts to protect caribou for future generations.

To address this urgent issue, the GNWT and Indigenous governments and Indigenous organizations are working together to:

• Reinforce shared messages on safe, legal and respectful harvesting through a joint public awareness campaign.
• Support community-led monitoring and guardian programs to promote public awareness and compliance.
• Continue regular aerial and ground patrols along the Tibbitt to Contwoyto winter road, and support close collaboration between Renewable Resource Officers and community guardian programs working along the winter road.

Quotes

“Caribou are central to the culture, traditions, and way of life in the Northwest Territories. While most harvesters follow traditional teachings and harvest respectfully, the recent rise in illegal and wasteful harvesting is deeply concerning. We must all do our part to ensure there are caribou for future generations. Together with Indigenous governments and Indigenous organizations, we are committed to reinforcing respectful harvesting practices and strengthening conservation efforts.”

– Jay Macdonald, Minister of Environment and Climate Change

“Caribou are an essential to the Yellowknives Dene First Nation and we have depended on them for survival from time immemorial. We are deeply concerned with the level of hunting on the winter road and have been working with the Government to try and monitor activity. Despite our efforts we are still seeing this level of meat wastage at a time when the caribou numbers continue to drop. We all need to do better and work harder to ensure that the caribou survive and ultimately thrive. This will not happen if people continue to waste caribou.
– Ernest Betsina, Chief , Yellowknives Dene First Nation (Dettah)

“I was born on the land and lived a traditional life where caribou are an essential part of life. Wasting the meat of caribou is very disappointing and cannot continue considering the state of the caribou populations. As Chief I am committed to working with our partners to ensure this stops.”

– Fred Sangris, Chief , Yellowknives Dene First Nation (Ndılǫ)

“As Grand Chief of the Tłı̨chǫ Nation, I urge all harvesters to practice respect and responsibility in caribou harvesting. Our elders have taught us to use everything we harvest and to never waste. Caribou is a sacred gift, and the increasing reports of meat wastage contradict our values. This responsibility belongs to all of us: follow the laws, honour the caribou, and protect our way of life for future generations.”

– Jackson Lafferty, Grand Chief, Tłı̨chǫ Government
“Caribou are central to our people, culture, identity, and Aboriginal rights as Métis people.  Our community conducts responsible hunts while prioritizing the protection and sustainability of caribou herds, and we have been actively running the Winter Road Guardianship Program since 2020 to monitor the impacts on these animals. However, this year our members have documented significant meat wastage and other irresponsible behaviors at hunt sites, including littering and hunting while intoxicated. These actions are unacceptable, violate both Métis and Dene laws and cultural practices, and threaten our Aboriginal rights as well as the sustainability of the caribou herds.

We believe each Indigenous governing organization should adopt a needs-based approach, ensuring that their citizens take only what is necessary for themselves and their families. We encourage the GNWT to continue supporting Indigenous Guardian programs in collaboration with Indigenous governments, and we will continue working closely with the department of Environment and Climate Change to protect these precious animals.”

– Marc Whitford, President, North Slave Métis Alliance

Quick facts

• The Bathurst caribou herd has declined by 99% over the past 30 years, with the latest population estimate at 6,850 caribou in 2022.
• The Mobile Core Bathurst Caribou Management Zone (Mobile Zone) was established in 2015 to protect the Bathurst herd and is supported by Indigenous governments.
• Illegal and wasteful harvesting has increased significantly this winter road season, with at least 48 caribou wasted, including 22 pregnant cows.
• GNWT and Indigenous governments emphasize the importance of traditional practices and teachings:
  • Take only what you need.
  • Do not leave anything behind.
  • Share what you have when you get back to your community.
  • Listen and learn from Elders.
• Guardian programs from the North Slave Métis Alliance, Tłı̨chǫ Government, and Yellowknives Dene First Nation and ECC’s Renewable Resource Officers are actively monitoring the winter road to promote safe, legal and respectful harvesting.
• The GNWT, Indigenous governments and Indigenous organizations will also be watching for hunters who are hunting for profit or hunting solely for commercial purposes (i.e. selling all the meat that was harvested).
• If you are in doubt about any hunting regulations, please visit your local Environment and Climate Change office.

Related links

• Bathurst Caribou Management Plan
• Respectful Harvesting Campaign
• Help Build a Movement
• View the Current Mobile Core Bathurst Caribou Management Zone
• Our Commitment to Caribou Stewardship

For media requests, please contact:

Department of Environment and Climate Change
Government of the Northwest Territories
ECC_Communications@gov.nt.ca

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