First Nation imposes hunting restriction
The Taku River Tlingit First Nation (TRTFN) has declared a hunting restriction in its traditional territory.
The Taku River Tlingit First Nation (TRTFN) has declared a hunting restriction in its traditional territory.
Hunting in TRTFN traditional territory is now restricted to TRTFN citizens and the residents of Atlin, B.C.
All other hunting is deemed non-essential.
“TRTFN is the steward of this land, and the people here rely on what the land provides,” the First Nation said in a statement Wednesday.
“TRTFN will assert its authority to take measures as necessary to protect the land and its people.”
The TRTFN is in a state of emergency because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Non-essential travel for hunting purposes to TRTFN traditional territory puts this community at risk and jeopardizes food security,” the First Nation said.
“TRTFN continues to work with partner governments to collaborate in response to COVID-19.”
An information check stop will be set up on Highway 7 on Friday.
Comments (28)
Up 21 Down 3
Always Questions on Aug 25, 2020 at 8:25 pm
Fair enough, this is Atlin, BC region, but Yukon FN are/have/or are considering restrictions too.
Trying to find the valid argument for the restrictions. Covid19 can't be it? Tell me hunters, how many other hunters do you encounter on your hunt out in that lonely backwoods? Hunting should be able to very easily follow the 6-9 guidelines for the virus.
Is it because moose density/population's are 'stressed'? Found an interesting report here...
-> https://yukon.ca/sites/yukon.ca/files/env/env-science-based-guidelines-management-moose-yukon_3.pdf <- (it does address UFA & individual LCA)
Skimmed most of it, varies by region, still that can't be it? Environment Yukon seems to know where the moose are & are not. (Not helpful for BC I suppose) Time for another moose survey, work a deal with BC? I did find the report quite comprehensive, certainly for the Yukon moose.
Which leaves me believing it is completely about control (authority) of the many by the few. Is it fear? Is it land claims, settled or not settled? Rights!, right? ALL Yukoners deserve to be able to feed themselves & their families from the bounty of this one world we ALL live on (with the permit, of course & following the rules). Dividing people will not result in reconciliation for anybody, but I can understand the wanting to hide under the covers and keep everyone out, we already know that's a no go.
First Nations have not participated in any kind of 'harvest' (lol) data collection on their own kills nor do so designated, have to follow the regulations currently in place by the Territorial government (for the non-designated), so that report I posted the link to needs FN info/data to make it more robust and relevant for all of us.
Up 5 Down 26
Nathan Living on Aug 25, 2020 at 8:14 pm
They have not ceded their traditional territory so all land, wildlife, fish and mineral resources belong to them.
Up 2 Down 31
Legal Beegal on Aug 25, 2020 at 4:30 pm
Ha ha ha, all you old right wing crotchy cons, you have jw defending your position. Obviously my work is done here!!! Ha ha ha.
Up 11 Down 2
Josey Wales on Aug 25, 2020 at 11:52 am
LBW...2020 ya say, not 1950 eh?
Geez the way the narrative is illustrated among the cultural supremacists, their sycophants and administrator minions (no inference of you being said parties) one would think it was 1750...1450...like a pre contact Disney utopia of peace and harmony.
I suspect it is dark where you too spend a great deal of your time.
Reads like it might be very deep, beyond the bright lights of modern world that is so so oppressing.
Up 29 Down 1
BnR on Aug 25, 2020 at 11:37 am
Legal Beagal (sic)
Your opinion on whether I got it wrong or not is irrelevant. If, as you state, game populations are under "a great deal of stress", where is that data coming from? If it's anecdotal, that's hardly a sound methodology to base a management plan on. If it's empirical, all harvest data, including First Nations, needs to be used.
Yukon resident licensed hunters have been asked by the various First Nations not to hunt in their traditional areas, yet the outfitters are carrying on business as usual. In many areas, non resident (clients) harvest exceeds that of resident, yet the requests have not been extended to the outfitters.
Again, if indeed Moose populations in certain areas are under stress, all hunters must be factored in, not just Whitehorse residents.
Up 28 Down 2
Groucho d'North on Aug 25, 2020 at 9:28 am
Another hunting restriction without supporting data on the total harvest being shared. Other than being a politically-fashionable thing to do, there does not appear to be any reason to restrict hunting activity. And WTF does "non-essential" hunting even mean? If you hunt and waste meat, there are penalties for that as there should be.
Up 3 Down 12
Legal Whatever on Aug 24, 2020 at 7:02 pm
Dear Miss gringo, in case you haven't noticed (it is dark under that rock) there is a new status quo. This is not 1950, it is 2020.
Up 28 Down 3
Seriously on Aug 24, 2020 at 4:49 pm
Sinicle - it is also illegal for self-governing FNs to institute a ban on hunting in their TTs. Traditional territories are not settlement land. They still belong to all the people. Supreme Court has already been through this.
This government won't dare tell them they are wrong and Yukoners can hunt. Instead the game branch is told to use words like "we encourage Yukoners to respect their wishes". God forbid the government side with regular Yukoners other than FNs. They might lose a few votes from those who really run the government.
Up 22 Down 8
Gringo on Aug 24, 2020 at 3:49 pm
Legal whatever....status quo...perfect all areas open to hunting, fishing, etc., within the guidelines produced by the government. No deal, no jurisdiction period.
Up 9 Down 42
Legal Beagal on Aug 24, 2020 at 3:19 pm
BnR, oh so now you are a spelling B authority also!! LOL. I am thinking you did some very quick research and got it wrong. Why do you think there was/has been such a push to complete all outstanding Land Claims. The original treaty process petered (sic) out in BC before it got to TRTFN and the Yukon. Yes there are FNs in Yukon that have FAs, but there are some that have not, therefore legally they own all the land in their traditional territory. This in itself should not be viewed as a bad thing. FNs have always been very good stewards of the land and are simply sounding the alarm that game populations are under a great deal of stress.
Up 22 Down 4
BnR on Aug 24, 2020 at 8:21 am
Legal Beagal (sic). That act was repealed over 100 years ago.
Up 10 Down 36
Legal Beagal on Aug 23, 2020 at 3:02 pm
Dear mr. nonsicile, sorry the onus is on the Federal Goverment to settle all outstanding claims, or else the status quo exists, so if you don't like being restricted, sign and agreement. You are the newcomer, not FNs.
Up 20 Down 4
Chuck Farley on Aug 23, 2020 at 2:52 pm
Well being that Atlin is in BC that alone prohibits Yukon hunters from hunting in that area in the first place. No big deal just open for local residents.
Up 31 Down 2
BnR on Aug 23, 2020 at 8:55 am
Bear in mind that this is not an isolated Atlin-only case. Mayo, Teslin, Ross River and Liard First Nation have all expressed the same sentiments.
Stay away.
Liard River FN stated in their press release that they will be patrolling, setting up check stops etc.
Up 34 Down 4
Salt on Aug 22, 2020 at 9:37 pm
There is something fundamentally wrong with a media site editing comments. Especially when it is simply justifiable criticism directed at them.
Up 43 Down 7
Sinicle on Aug 22, 2020 at 8:47 pm
@comment nonsense....traditional territory is laughable, if you look, it encompasses the whole Yukon so it’s absurd. If a FN does not have an UFA and non settlement A or B then it’s fair game to hunt, fish, drive etc on that portion of land...don’t like it...sign an agreement otherwise it’s unenforceable.
Up 34 Down 7
Josey Wales on Aug 22, 2020 at 8:15 pm
It Is...NOT I repeat NOT "the law" only fools and absolute and complete cultural supremacists "feel" so.
Up 4 Down 16
Legal Beagal on Aug 22, 2020 at 3:24 pm
BnR, the 1872 Order, Dominion Lands Act.
Up 55 Down 7
Salt on Aug 22, 2020 at 12:48 pm
Why is the Star running this story as if it’s a paid advertisement/distribution for TRTFN? You would think a FN making unilateral declarations such as this would merit some actual journalism. What the TRTFN is proposing is obviously not legal.
Up 57 Down 4
BnR on Aug 22, 2020 at 9:54 am
Common Cents, please provide the link to the "law" that you reference.
I have no issue with respect to First Nation self governance, however, if you're going to impose regulations and demands on people, there has to be a legal framework in place to allow for said regulations. It can't be on an ad hoc basis.
The TRTFN states it's closing the hunting down because of the C-19 emergency, yet allows other tourists to come into their traditional territory, and they don't seem to have a problem coming to Whitehorse. There literally is no rationale behind this other than we don't want you here.
Up 64 Down 6
Max Mack on Aug 22, 2020 at 9:03 am
Imagine if the government of BC or YT declared that FN citizens - and only FN citizens - were barred from hunting on Crown land. Journalists and their ilk would be screaming about the obvious discrimination.
Up 51 Down 5
Joe on Aug 21, 2020 at 7:40 pm
Taxpayers impose infrastructure restrictions on Canadian territory. Does it not seem racist that some people have more rights than others? You want a hunting restriction, restrict it on everyone. Your restriction jeopardizes my food security.
Up 5 Down 17
Curious Yukoner on Aug 21, 2020 at 4:36 pm
What Yukon First Nations are declaring a ban on hunting in their traditional territory? I have seen nothing on this.
Up 50 Down 13
Salt on Aug 21, 2020 at 1:51 pm
FN leadership across Canada is pursuing divisive policy. Not surprising, as they’ve seen it ‘work’ for Quebec and blacks in the US. Locally it appears the Umbrella agreements were in bad faith.
Up 49 Down 10
Wes on Aug 21, 2020 at 1:22 pm
There has to be some certainty with respect to who governs what. If the first nations want to come up with their own governments, complete with legislation, laws, infrastructure, tax base, all the trappings of the provincial and territorial governments, great. Then provincial or territorial residents will know how to proceed. Bear in mind that ALL residents would get to vote who leads these governments, because if you're going to impose regulations, then the people affected get a vote. Same goes here in the Yukon with the recent spate of hunting "closures" by some Yukon fns.
Up 15 Down 66
Common Cents on Aug 21, 2020 at 12:26 pm
Dear None and BnR, as a matter of fact, yes trtfn and those YFNs that don't have settled claims indeed do own all of the land in their traditional territory. Until they cede, release and surrender, any court of law will uphold any court challenge to their ownership. Sorry but that is the law.
Up 74 Down 18
None on Aug 21, 2020 at 7:14 am
Load of bulls**it. TRT dont “own” the land
Up 76 Down 19
BnR on Aug 20, 2020 at 6:43 pm
“TRTFN will assert its authority to take measures as necessary to protect the land and its people.”
And whatever steps you take, they will be illegal.
Same with the Yukon FNs the are declaring hunting restrictions on their traditional lands.
Illegal.
Period.