By Bryan Eneas

Ottawa considering ‘threatened’ status for barren-ground caribou

Sep 5, 2018 | 12:00 PM

Officials with Environment Canada are travelling the northern regions of Saskatchewan gathering feedback about their idea to change the endangered status of barren-ground caribou.

While no field experts were available to answer questions about the process just yet, an email from Environment Canada confirmed experts are currently reviewing the species in Northern Saskatchewan.

Members of the Beverly and Qamanirjuaq Caribou Management Board (BQCMB) met with representatives from Environment and Climate Change Canada’s for a presentation about the proposed change.

“The board was told that the federal definition of ‘threatened’ is ‘likely to become endangered unless threats are addressed,’ and ‘endangered’ as ‘likely to disappear from Canada if immediate action is not taken,’” a statement from BQCMB read.

The board’s statement noted they had many questions and suggestions for the government regarding the change, but first and foremost was community members who harvest caribou “will only listen if they are consulted so they understand each step of the process.”

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Board members also called for traditional knowledge to be incorporated into the decision-making process.

“Back in the old days the Elders knew the caribou was declining, even without technology,” Louis Josie from Hatchet Lake said in the statement. “Elders all used to say that caribou is our livelihood. We are the caribou eaters. We’ve lived on it all our lives. Don’t give our traditional way of life away.”

The board’s statement noted many of the questions they have about the decision relate to what a change to “threatened” would mean for traditional caribou harvesters.

They were told a recovery plan would be developed to restore caribou herds, however that would mean a prohibition would be placed on harvests. The prohibition would be implemented on federal lands, however existing rights would be protected and have precedence.

“Board members felt these answers were not entirely clear and remained concerned that the listing would impact traditional caribou users,” the BQCMB statement read.

The board’s statement noted their next meeting would take place in Winnipeg and the possible change of the barren-ground caribou’s status would be a topic of discussion there. More information would be available to members then, as federal consultations are set to wrap up in late October.

The officials from Environment Canada have conducted one consultation meeting in Hatchet Lake on Sept. 4, and will host additional meetings in Black Lake on Sept. 5 at 6 p.m. and Fond du Lac on Sept. 6 at 6 p.m.

Bryan.Eneas@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @BryanEneas