The B.C. government announced the formation of a roundtable to address how to improve moose populations and hunting opportunities in the Tŝilhqot’in National Government territory and surrounding areas. The roundtable comes as part of the province signing a co-management agreement with the TNG.
READ MORE: B.C. Interior First Nation government and province sign moose co-management agreement
In response to concern about the wildfires on moose populations in August, the B.C. Government rescinded 68 Limited Entry Hunt (LEH) moose authorizations for resident hunters. The Tŝilhqot’in subsequently called for a ban on moose hunting for the upcoming hunting season and blockaded a public road to restrict access to their territory.
The B.C. Wildlife Federation sent out a press release applauding the efforts of the Tŝilhqot’in National Government and Minister Donaldson in moving forward with this moose co-management agreement. It says it has been calling for a roundtable discussion for some time.
BCWF President Harvey Andrusak emphasized that the strategy of producing more moose will lessen the potential for conflict between indigenous and non-indigenous people. “We believe that the willingness of government and the Tŝilhqot’in to enter into roundtable discussions is a positive signal and we look forward to contributing constructively to the discussion,” said Andrusak.
The BCWF says it is currently working co-operatively with Tŝilhqot’in Nation and Tahltan Nation consultants to undertake prescribed burns as early as spring 2019 in the effort to improve wildlife habitat and protect communities. Prescribed burns are one tool that can effectively produce more moose, it says.
The federation says it is satisfied its calls for collaboration on this issue have been answered. “It is in all our interests to see the moose population increase, and we are very pleased with the joint governments’ announcement of establishing a roundtable,” said Andrusak.
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