Natural Resources
Justice
Environment and Conservation
February 21, 2010
Newfoundland
and Labrador Government Calls on Quebec Innu
to Respect Conservation Principles
The Government of
Newfoundland and Labrador today called upon the Quebec Innu to put
conservation first and withdraw from a closed hunting zone of Labrador
that is home to the threatened Red Wine caribou herd. Information
collected by the Department of Natural Resources indicates that
approximately 100-150 Innu hunters from Quebec are camped in an area
populated by the George River caribou herd, but also closed to hunting
because it is the core range of the threatened Red Wine Caribou herd.
"We ask the Quebec
Innu leadership to put conservation practices first and instead of
risking killing the last of the Red Wine caribou to make a political
point, accept our offer to sit down and work through these conservation
issues as leaders do," said the Honourable Felix Collins, Minister of
Justice and Attorney General. "It will be truly devastating if this
action by the Quebec Innu wipes out this protected woodland herd, but
those most negatively impacted by this blatant disregard for
conservation principles will be future generations, for whom the Red
Wine caribou will exist as nothing more than a picture in a history
book."
The protected Red
Wine caribou herd is intermingled with the George River animals, which
is why this area is closed to hunting. Animals from the two herds are
not visually distinct and therefore any hunting in this area is a direct
threat to the remaining Red Wine caribou. Conservation officers with the
Department of Natural Resources confirmed today that some animals have
been killed, however, it is not possible to determine at this time if
the animals are George River caribou or the protected Red Wine caribou.
The Provincial
Government has made two written requests to Chief Georges-Ernest
Gregoire of the Uashat Mak Mani-Utenam so far this year to come to the
table and open a dialogue on conservation rather than take to the land
and hunt an endangered herd. Government officials also attempted to
outline to a group of Quebec Innu hunters on Saturday the caribou
management zones that are open to legal hunting and populated with
caribou. Quebec Innu have indicated that their presence is to protest
the initialing this week of the formal documents for the New Dawn
Agreement reached between the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
and the Labrador Innu Nation.
"Killing the last of
the Red Wine caribou herd is not the way to go to raise issues of
concern," said Minister Collins. "I once again call upon the Quebec Innu
leadership to work with us in a collaborative fashion for the
conservation of this herd."
Conservation
officers with the Department of Natural Resources are monitoring the
activity of the Quebec Innu, given their stated intentions, and are
patrolling for any illegal hunting in the closed zones through regular
and aerial patrols. Evidence will be collected and charges laid, where
warranted and when safe to do so, in the event of illegal activities.
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Media contacts:
Tracy Barron
Director of Communications
Department of Natural Resources
709-729-5282, 690-8241
tracybarron@gov.nl.ca
|
Ken
Morrissey
Director of Communications
Department of Justice
709-729-6985, 685-6612
kenmorrissey@gov.nl.ca
|
Melony
O'Neill
Director of Communications
Department of Environment and Conservation
709-729-2575, 698-0928
MOneill@gov.nl.ca
|
|
2010 02
21 4:55 p.m. |