Media Release: Nunatsiavut Government is pleased to see Indigenous Groups from Quebec agreeing with our Government’s call for a ban on all harvesting of the George River Caribou Herd.
Tony Andersen is the Lands and Natural Resources Minister.
He says “Caribou is a part of our culture identity which has helped to sustain our people for thousands of years as valuable source of food, clothing and tools.
However we reached a point where the George River Caribou herd is struggling to survive and sacrifices have to be made if there is to be any hope of recovery.”
A census carried out this summer 2018 estimates the herd is at 5,500 animals, a 38% decline from 2016. The results came back a shock.
Andersen says “never did we think the decline would be as much as it was, and we can only attribute it to continued harvesting acitivies.”
Nunatsiavut Government held multiple meetings with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Innu Nation and NunatuKavut Community Council leading up to and following the release of the census results.
He goes on to say “during all of our meetings we firmly stated that we believe there should be no harvesting whatsoever from the George River Caribou Herd, we stand by that position.”
Minister Andersen is urging all Beneficiaries of the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement to adhere to the Provincial harvesting Moratorium on George River Caribou. He is also renewing calls for stricter enforcement measures.