The organization that represents Manitoba hunters has threatened legal action after the provincial government announced it would reduce the number of moose hunting licences available to non-Indigenous hunters by 75 per cent in northern Manitoba.
The Manitoba Wildlife Federation says the decision to reduce the number of bull moose tags to 50 from 200 in four game hunting areas is “unjustifiable and unlawful” and said it “will virtually strip non-Indigenous hunters of the chance to hunt moose in northern Manitoba.”
The 350,000-member federation accused the NDP government of taking direction from political organizations like Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak that represents northern First Nations. The MKO met with Natural Resources Minister Jamie Moses before the moose tag draw to ask that hunting be off-limits to non-Indigenous people in their First Nation territories where they say moose — an important source of food for Indigenous communities — appear to be in decline.
(AP file photo/Toby Talbot)
The organization that represents Manitoba hunters has threatened legal action after the provincial government announced it would reduce the number of moose hunting licences available to non-Indigenous hunters by 75 per cent in northern Manitoba.
The decision to reduce the number of licences is in order to “balance population sustainability and the needs of harvesters while still offering hunting opportunities,” the province said in a news release Thursday.
After 200 moose tags were issued in the four areas last year, 47 moose were reported harvested, a government spokesman said Friday. The province does not have numbers on how many moose were harvested there by Indigenous hunters, he said.
The wildlife federation said there are no studies, aerial surveys or data to support the province’s move.
“This decision wasn’t based on factual data,” managing director Carly Deacon said Friday. “This was a political decision. We feel that that decision was unlawful based on the fact that it’s contrary to how we operate in the province in terms of conservation and regulation changes.”
Deacon said they’ve consulted with legal counsel and will apply for a judicial review.
“What that essentially means is the court would review and potentially overturn the provincial government’s decision if it finds — as we feel — that the government acted arbitrarily or unreasonably.”
In a news release, the Manitoba Wildlife Federation said it fears there will be further restrictions on hunting and fishing provincewide and called on Manitobans to “protect their heritage rights.”
The 2009 Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Heritage Act says such activities “have played important roles in shaping Manitoba’s social, cultural and economic heritage,” and that a person has a right to hunt, fish and trap in accordance with the law. The Act also says that it is not to be interpreted to abrogate or derogate Indigenous and treaty rights recognized and affirmed by section 35 of the Constitution Act.
Chief David Monias of Pimicikamak Okimawin said his northern First Nation didn’t want the province to issue any moose tags on its territory.
“We stated to Manitoba by letter that they’re not to issue any licences or permits for hunting or fishing in our territory,” Monias said Friday. “We have to ensure there’s conservation of hunting and fishing. We have treaty rights.”
The chief also pointed to Manitoba’s commitment to the 1977 Northern Flood Agreement to preserve moose populations for future generations.
Neither the province nor the wildlife federation have met with his First Nation directly to talk about moose hunting on their territory, Monias said.
(AP file photoThe Daily Journal, James Ramsay)
The Manitoba Wildlife Federation says the decision to reduce the number of bull moose tags to 50 from 200 in four game hunting areas is “unjustifiable and unlawful” and said it “will virtually strip non-Indigenous hunters of the chance to hunt moose in northern Manitoba.”
“Anything about us, without us, won’t work,” the chief said. “It is the duty of governments to go to the First Nation and get prior and informed consent.”
Monias said he would hope any non-Indigenous hunter who did get a tag would check with the First Nation beforehand “out of respect,” then share the meat with the community or compensate them for taking a moose.
Moses said the government took a “balanced approach” in reducing the number of moose tags drawn. “We want to make sure Manitobans have the ability to hunt,” while respecting treaty rights and conservation concerns, he said Friday.
“We take the sustainability of the moose population very seriously.”
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Before making the decision, his department reviewed historical data and listened to the concerns of MKO, the wildlife federation, and hunters and outfitters, Moses said.
He wouldn’t commit to increasing the number of tags drawn in northern Manitoba if there is ever a boom in the moose population.
The Progressive Conservatives say the NDP government needs to be transparent and accountable for the sudden changes.
“A 75 per cent cut in licences demands an explanation with supporting data,” Tory critic for natural resources Rick Wowchuk said in a statement Friday. “If the NDP minister is prepared to make these changes, he needs to re-engage with all stakeholders and share that data with Manitobans today.”
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Carol Sanders
Legislature reporter
Carol Sanders is a reporter at the Free Press legislature bureau. The former general assignment reporter and copy editor joined the paper in 1997. Read more about Carol.
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