Caribou consultation ahead

With many Nunavummiut concerned about the future of caribou herds in the territory, the Government of Nunavut says it wants people to “talk tuktu” and participate in a public consultation on caribou.

Public feedback will help create a territory-wide strategy for caribou management and address concerns about the future of some herds, the GN says.

“Caribou are an extremely important cultural, economic, and ecological resource to all Nunavummiut,” said environment minister Daniel Shewchuk in a Sept. 2 news release.

According to wildlife surveys, the number of caribou in Nunavut has shrunk from over one million animals 15 years ago to about 400,000 today.

And some caribou herds across the territory have been all but wiped out.

Wildlife management officials now want to look at how the size and productivity of herds may change in future years.

How much are human activities really affecting caribou, how can we promote the continued development of Nunavut’s society and economy while avoiding conflicts with caribou, are among questions posed in Nunavut’s draft caribou strategy, which is available at www.gov.nu.ca/nev.

The draft document is also available at every hunters and trappers organization in Nunavut.

“We hope that Nunavummiut will take this opportunity to speak to their HTO representatives in order to put forward their most pressing concerns or ideas about caribou,” Shewchuck said. “This will not be the only opportunity, however. We hope to continue the dialogue and collaboration well into the future.”

The GN plans to review and evaluate progress made in implementing the strategy at least once every five years.

For now, Shewchuck’s department is gearing up for regional consultation meetings to be held later this month.

The regional caribou strategy meetings take place in Yellowknife Sept. 20-21, in Iqaluit Sept. 28-29 and in Rankin Inlet Oct. 5-6.