By Cheryl Jahn

McLeod lake wants change to caribou recovery plan

Oct 14, 2021 | 4:10 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – The fate of the Southern Mountain Cariboo has been on the radar since it was placed on the federal Species at-risk list. As part of measures undertaken to improve caribou populations, the province conducted what the McLeod Lake Indian band calls a “trial” involving a moose cull. Would reducing the number of moose and their calves, in turn, reduce the number wolf population and therefore add to the caribou population?

The McLeod Lake Indian Band says no.

“This ‘trial’ involves killing mother moose and their calves to reduce the number of wolves and aid in caribou recovery,” says Deputy Chief Jayde Chingee. “Where is the science behind this scenario? Other indigenous nations in BC supported by hunters and guide-outfitters have known for years that if you want to support healthy populations of moose, caribou, and other ungulates you reduce the number of wolves, not the number of mother moose and their calves.”

Chingee says the Band is asking the province to stick with the wolf cull instead, as well as develop a more sustainable, long-term solution.

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“This experiment not only does not make sense, but it does also not align with our traditional knowledge, cultural practices, or our traditional laws. This 2021 and it is time that government staff understands that they cannot unilaterally impose wildlife management experiments on us in our unceded ancestral lands.”

She notes this is an era of truth a reconciliation.

“Yet here we are with another ‘government knows best’ decision that was made without our consent. Those days are done, and we have asked the Premier to halt this experiment and instead, allow everyone to meet and determine a more sustainable, longer-term solution to aid caribou recovery in our territory.”