Trophy bear hunting has been banned by First Nations on B.C.’s north and central coast in their traditional territories since 2012.
Despite the Coastal First Nations’ best efforts to ban trophy hunting, grizzly bears continue to be killed in their territories.
“Killing bears for trophy not only threatens a more sustainable local economy, it is an affront on our culture,” said Jason Moody, the Fisheries Manager of the Nuxalk Nation. “We hunt animals for food, not for sport”.
Lake Babine Nation Chief Wilf Adam said he supports the Coastal First Nations’ ban, adding that Lake Babine Nation strongly opposes trophy hunting.
“Bears are sacred to us and we only use them for sustenance bases,” said Chief Adam.
In a recent press release, Coastal First Nations accused the provincial government of refusing to recognize their ban.
Greig Bethel, Public Affairs Officer for the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, said the province considers the licences of guides, resident hunters and non-resident hunters [to hunt on First Nations territory] to be valid. In addition, Bethel said the province continues to discuss grizzly bear management with the Coastal First Nations.
“The province manages grizzly bear populations in a manner respectful of First Nation food, social, and ceremonial uses, through the limited entry hunt for licensed hunters, through quota for guide outfitters, for wildlife viewing, and for recovery where populations are considered threatened,” said Bethel.
Within the traditional territories of the Coastal First Nations, approximately 58 per cent is closed to grizzly hunting. According to Bethel, the grizzly bear harvest management is based on the “best available science.”
“The principles behind our decisions are: the best available population estimates; estimates of sustainable human-caused mortality rates; and conservative mortality limits.”
Grizzly bears are the species that generate the most revenue for the province. Grizzly bear licences generate $347,000 annually - $104,000 by resident hunters and $243,000 by non-resident.
Coastal First Nations chiefs have been encouraging resident hunters to voluntarily comply with the ban by surrendering their grizzly tag to Coastal First Nations.
“We are moving in the right direction,” said Kitasoo/Xai’xais First Nation Chief Doug Neasloss. “Our allies are purchasing commercial hunting licenses from guides in our territories and resident hunters have begun to surrender their grizzly tags to us in compliance with our ban.”
Coastal First Nations said they will now redouble their monitoring and enforcement efforts.
“We are coordinating efforts to patrol our territories to monitor and enforce the closure of this senseless trophy hunt,” said William Housty from the Heiltsuk Nation.
The Coastal First Nations are an alliance of First Nations that includes the Wuikinuxv Nation, Heiltsuk, Kitasoo/Xai’xais, Nuxalk, Gitga’at, Haisla, Metlakatla, Old Massett, Skidegate and Council of the Haida Nation.
“Bears can offer great opportunity for communities as a sustainable, non-extractive industry,” said Moody. “We are happy to share the experience of spending time close to bears with people from around the world, as long as they come with cameras, not guns.”