The Lutsel KSA国际影视传媒檈 Dene First Nation (LKDFN) was looking for answers following whatSA国际影视传媒檚 being described as a SA国际影视传媒渇orceful invasionSA国际影视传媒� of its cultural camp inside the Thaidene Nene National Park Reserve.
According to a press release issued late Wednesday afternoon, LKDFN wants the GNWT to look into an alleged raid of the camp on Sept. 13 by wildlife officers. The news release says that government officials descended on the camp by helicopter. Community members were reportedly told that the officers were there to investigate alleged illegal hunting within the mobile core Bathurst Caribou management zone, which LKDFN says is located 150-km north of the camp at Timber Bay, on Artillery Lake.
The news release also alleges that wildlife officers threatened to press charges of obstruction and to bring in additional officers if people refused to comply with their demands. The search lasted four hours, according to the LKDFN, with samples of country food seized.
Iris Catholique, Thaidene Nene manager for the LKDFN, stated in the news release that she was shocked that the GNWT would take such actions.
SA国际影视传媒淭his was a completely unreasonable search and an unnecessary violation of our Aboriginal and treaty rights,SA国际影视传媒� Catholique said. SA国际影视传媒淚t reminds us that all the talk about reconciliation and new relationships is just talk until there is a real change in how other governments deal with us on the ground. These kinds of tactics remind us of the past when our people were persecuted by wildlife officers for practising their way of life.SA国际影视传媒�
Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) Minister Shane Thompson responded to the allegations on Sept. 15, saying that two wildlife officers were investigating two separate reports from the public of illegal harvesting happening within the caribou management zone.
Thompson said 10 caribou in total were harvested, all located inside the zone, with a significant amount of edible meat wasted. The officers entered the site with a search warrant, he added, with no more information being released at the present time as it is an ongoing investigation.
Catholique also alleges that children were crying and Elders were traumatized during the search and that tents and tepees were entered.
Charlie Catholique, LKDFNSA国际影视传媒檚 acting chief, said the matter has been referred to the First NationSA国际影视传媒檚 lawyer, Larry Innes.
SA国际影视传媒淲e will defend our membersSA国际影视传媒� ability to exercise their rights and practise their way of life in peace,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲e are seeking a full explanation and an apology from the GNWT for this incident.SA国际影视传媒�
ENR stated that the management zone was implemented in 2015 with the support of Indigenous governments and Indigenous organizations who traditionally harvest from the Bathurst herd SA国际影视传媒� including the WekSA国际影视传媒檈ezhii Renewable Resources Board. The department also said it has been working with leaders from the Yellowknives Dene First Nation, the T艂谋icho Government, Lutsel KSA国际影视传媒檈 Dene First Nation, North Slave M茅tis Alliance, Den谋nu Kue First Nation, Salt River First Nation and the Northwest Territories Metis Nation to support the recovery of the Bathurst herd, which has seen its numbers drop from 470,000 in 1986 to just 6,200 in 2021.
