scooter
07-28-2005, 01:19 PM
Here's the latest from the ABA on the Interim Métis Harvest Agreement.
Have a read......
Interim Métis Harvest Agreement -
MLA Committee Consultation
Alberta Bowhunters Association Presentation
________________________________________________
Date: July 14, 2005
Location: Legislature Building, Edmonton, Alberta
MLA Committee on IMHA: Mr. Denis Ducharme, Mr.Neil Brown and Mr. Frank Oberle
Presenters: RykVisscher, Darryl Kublik, Dale Johnson
Key Points:
v Alberta Entitlements
The Alberta Bowhunters Association fully supports the harvesting of wildlife and fish on Métis Settlements within Alberta as they have had the privilege of for many years.
However, we fail to understand how the Government of Alberta has gone significantly beyond the “Powley” case in entitling the whole of the province to be considered Métis Lands.
No other province in Canada has provided these entitlements. Even the Ontario agreement, which was signed just months before the IMHA, did not entitle Métis to hunt within their entire province nor for anything other than food. Instead, the Ontario agreement specifies that all harvesters must be licensed, monitored, and the animals registered. To hunt for food is the privilege that has been granted, and now the Alberta interpretation includes cultural, traditional, spiritual, harvesting. This interpretation allows an eagle or a whooping crane to be hunted for a feather as “subsistence.” There have been nine rams registered (how many have not been registered cannot be known) by Métis since August, 2004. There have also been two cougars registered as subsistence hunting.
v Recreational Hunters:
Recreational Hunters in this province are proud to be conservationists, and to be counted and to participate in effective wildlife management by registering animals, and providing harvest information for annual SRD – Fish and Wildlife surveys. All hunters are counted, and especially bowhunters in Alberta are counted by purchasing a Bowhunting permit, which is primarily just to allow the Wildlife managers to know exactly how many bowhunters there are in the province. No other province can accurately state how many bowhunters they have, which makes things more difficult for wildlife managers. The Alberta Bowhunters Association instituted this requirement decades ago, with all monies from the purchase of a Bowhunting permit being directed into Wildlife Conservation programs.
We ask that Métis obtain a permit or license, even at no cost, but it would allow Wildlife Managers to know how many Métis hunters we have.
Unfortunately for those Métis who choose to no longer purchase a recreational license, they will not be supporting wildlife management from the purchase of their licenses. This is a tremendous loss of funding that supports wildlife enhancement for all Albertans. Currently recreational hunters provide information to SRD – Fish and Wildlife about success rates, gender harvested, days in the field, equipment used, and Wildlife Management Units hunted.
We would like to see registration information provided by Métis which will allow wildlife managers to manage as required.
This would be a benefit to the Métis harvesters since proper wildlife management information and accurate allocation information allows wildlife managers to assess the impact of subsistence and recreational hunting in Wildlife Management Units.
A possible solution to aid in determining numbers for Métis harvesters is cross referencing the Name and Date of Birth, with the Wildlife Identification Number that was previously purchased by Métis persons who were recreational hunters.
This has been agreed to with a meeting between the Hunting for Tomorrow Foundation and the Métis Nation on January 19, 2005. It could be an avenue that SRD – Fish and Wildlife can use to aid Wildlife managers in determining past Métis harvesters numbers. Recreational hunters will be the first ones to lose opportunities to hunt, but we know conservation of wildlife is the most critical aspect and as conservation hunters, we are willing to lose some privileges for the betterment of Alberta’s wildlife.
v Not a Final Agreement
This agreement cannot be a final agreement.
The IMHA must remain a dynamic document that will be improved upon and strengthened over time. The initial information was that the Métis nation wanted to have this agreement finalized by September or October of 2005. Through positive consultation from the province and the Métis Associations, conservation issues and their resolutions can evolve through cooperation. We are concerned that a final agreement will hinder amendments as unforeseen issues arise in the future. Without a dynamic agreement, future issues and their resolutions could not be dealt with in a conservation-minded manner.
The agreement must always remain an interim agreement so that changes can be made as necessary.
v Public Education
In Alberta, we have the “Report A Poacher” program for all Albertan’s to report illegal hunting and fishing activities. Over 80% of calls received are from hunters and anglers. Recently members of the public have indicated that they did not report violations they saw, because the persons may have been Métis. We have concern that if the general public believes that a group can go unchecked, with regards to unlimited wildlife and fish harvesting, there could be hesitation on the part of the public to report all potential violations. This demonstrates the need for both the public and Métis to be better educated about Métis rights.
The Government and the Métis Nation must work diligently on education initiatives related to the roles and responsibilities regarding this agreement, for the betterment of all Albertans.
v Conservation Education
People are Conservationists by their actions, not their ancestry. We have a real concern with any new Métis hunters not taking mandatory conservation education courses to become a hunter as other new recreational hunters in Alberta must. This has safety and conservation implications. Similarly, currently many Métis are not aware that they still must purchase a fishing license and follow the regulations when angling with rod and reel, and unfortunately some of these people are being charged. Teaching youth and first time hunters proper safety, ethics, and training in proper techniques should not be neglected by the Métis Nation.
“Métis are conservationists and we have been for hundreds of years” is a statement without substance. All licensed hunters, such as ABA members, are true conservationists as well, but allow themselves to be licensed, monitored and adhere to annual regulations and limitations.
v Species of Concern
We ask that species of concern such as caribou, goats, grizzly bears, cougars, and bighorn sheep have conservation plans implemented with the Métis Nation.
To allow these species to be considered subsistence animals (when there are plenty of moose, deer, and elk) has conservation implications.
Agreements should be made between the Government and the Métis Nation with respect to species of concern, or conservation issues, such as spring closures through consultation. Charges cannot be laid for Métis hunting trophy rams as long as the meat isn’t wasted. Fish and Wildlife officers are very restricted in their ability to charge Métis for non-subsistence use.
v Métis Status and Responsibilities
We are aware that the Métis Nation has had to hire additional staff to deal with the increased Métis applications for “official status.” It concerns us that potentially hundreds or thousands of Métis persons are applying for the rights to subsistence hunting and fishing. These persons must be aware of their responsibilities in these opportunities, and must adhere to safety and conservation regulations. Citing from a March Hansard transcript, MLA Frank Oberle asked MLA Pearl Calahasen what was being done to ensure good conservation of wildlife; Pearl answered that “They waited a year to allow Métis hunting to ensure that structures were in place.” There are no structures in place to ensure good conservation practices by the Métis: no monitoring, no licensing, no registration, and no safety or hunter education.
Average licensed hunters are heavily monitored and support this action, while Métis hunt without restrictions.
v Stakeholder Input
This entire process is troublesome and the lack of stakeholder consultation is of concern.
We ask that increased stakeholder involvement be a critical component of future discussions regarding this agreement.
Contact information:
Mr. Brent Watson
President,
Alberta Bowhunters Association
10238 -110 Avenue
Grande Prairie, Alberta
T8V 1S7
e-mail: bcwatson@telusplanet.net
780.539.9811
Have a read......
Interim Métis Harvest Agreement -
MLA Committee Consultation
Alberta Bowhunters Association Presentation
________________________________________________
Date: July 14, 2005
Location: Legislature Building, Edmonton, Alberta
MLA Committee on IMHA: Mr. Denis Ducharme, Mr.Neil Brown and Mr. Frank Oberle
Presenters: RykVisscher, Darryl Kublik, Dale Johnson
Key Points:
v Alberta Entitlements
The Alberta Bowhunters Association fully supports the harvesting of wildlife and fish on Métis Settlements within Alberta as they have had the privilege of for many years.
However, we fail to understand how the Government of Alberta has gone significantly beyond the “Powley” case in entitling the whole of the province to be considered Métis Lands.
No other province in Canada has provided these entitlements. Even the Ontario agreement, which was signed just months before the IMHA, did not entitle Métis to hunt within their entire province nor for anything other than food. Instead, the Ontario agreement specifies that all harvesters must be licensed, monitored, and the animals registered. To hunt for food is the privilege that has been granted, and now the Alberta interpretation includes cultural, traditional, spiritual, harvesting. This interpretation allows an eagle or a whooping crane to be hunted for a feather as “subsistence.” There have been nine rams registered (how many have not been registered cannot be known) by Métis since August, 2004. There have also been two cougars registered as subsistence hunting.
v Recreational Hunters:
Recreational Hunters in this province are proud to be conservationists, and to be counted and to participate in effective wildlife management by registering animals, and providing harvest information for annual SRD – Fish and Wildlife surveys. All hunters are counted, and especially bowhunters in Alberta are counted by purchasing a Bowhunting permit, which is primarily just to allow the Wildlife managers to know exactly how many bowhunters there are in the province. No other province can accurately state how many bowhunters they have, which makes things more difficult for wildlife managers. The Alberta Bowhunters Association instituted this requirement decades ago, with all monies from the purchase of a Bowhunting permit being directed into Wildlife Conservation programs.
We ask that Métis obtain a permit or license, even at no cost, but it would allow Wildlife Managers to know how many Métis hunters we have.
Unfortunately for those Métis who choose to no longer purchase a recreational license, they will not be supporting wildlife management from the purchase of their licenses. This is a tremendous loss of funding that supports wildlife enhancement for all Albertans. Currently recreational hunters provide information to SRD – Fish and Wildlife about success rates, gender harvested, days in the field, equipment used, and Wildlife Management Units hunted.
We would like to see registration information provided by Métis which will allow wildlife managers to manage as required.
This would be a benefit to the Métis harvesters since proper wildlife management information and accurate allocation information allows wildlife managers to assess the impact of subsistence and recreational hunting in Wildlife Management Units.
A possible solution to aid in determining numbers for Métis harvesters is cross referencing the Name and Date of Birth, with the Wildlife Identification Number that was previously purchased by Métis persons who were recreational hunters.
This has been agreed to with a meeting between the Hunting for Tomorrow Foundation and the Métis Nation on January 19, 2005. It could be an avenue that SRD – Fish and Wildlife can use to aid Wildlife managers in determining past Métis harvesters numbers. Recreational hunters will be the first ones to lose opportunities to hunt, but we know conservation of wildlife is the most critical aspect and as conservation hunters, we are willing to lose some privileges for the betterment of Alberta’s wildlife.
v Not a Final Agreement
This agreement cannot be a final agreement.
The IMHA must remain a dynamic document that will be improved upon and strengthened over time. The initial information was that the Métis nation wanted to have this agreement finalized by September or October of 2005. Through positive consultation from the province and the Métis Associations, conservation issues and their resolutions can evolve through cooperation. We are concerned that a final agreement will hinder amendments as unforeseen issues arise in the future. Without a dynamic agreement, future issues and their resolutions could not be dealt with in a conservation-minded manner.
The agreement must always remain an interim agreement so that changes can be made as necessary.
v Public Education
In Alberta, we have the “Report A Poacher” program for all Albertan’s to report illegal hunting and fishing activities. Over 80% of calls received are from hunters and anglers. Recently members of the public have indicated that they did not report violations they saw, because the persons may have been Métis. We have concern that if the general public believes that a group can go unchecked, with regards to unlimited wildlife and fish harvesting, there could be hesitation on the part of the public to report all potential violations. This demonstrates the need for both the public and Métis to be better educated about Métis rights.
The Government and the Métis Nation must work diligently on education initiatives related to the roles and responsibilities regarding this agreement, for the betterment of all Albertans.
v Conservation Education
People are Conservationists by their actions, not their ancestry. We have a real concern with any new Métis hunters not taking mandatory conservation education courses to become a hunter as other new recreational hunters in Alberta must. This has safety and conservation implications. Similarly, currently many Métis are not aware that they still must purchase a fishing license and follow the regulations when angling with rod and reel, and unfortunately some of these people are being charged. Teaching youth and first time hunters proper safety, ethics, and training in proper techniques should not be neglected by the Métis Nation.
“Métis are conservationists and we have been for hundreds of years” is a statement without substance. All licensed hunters, such as ABA members, are true conservationists as well, but allow themselves to be licensed, monitored and adhere to annual regulations and limitations.
v Species of Concern
We ask that species of concern such as caribou, goats, grizzly bears, cougars, and bighorn sheep have conservation plans implemented with the Métis Nation.
To allow these species to be considered subsistence animals (when there are plenty of moose, deer, and elk) has conservation implications.
Agreements should be made between the Government and the Métis Nation with respect to species of concern, or conservation issues, such as spring closures through consultation. Charges cannot be laid for Métis hunting trophy rams as long as the meat isn’t wasted. Fish and Wildlife officers are very restricted in their ability to charge Métis for non-subsistence use.
v Métis Status and Responsibilities
We are aware that the Métis Nation has had to hire additional staff to deal with the increased Métis applications for “official status.” It concerns us that potentially hundreds or thousands of Métis persons are applying for the rights to subsistence hunting and fishing. These persons must be aware of their responsibilities in these opportunities, and must adhere to safety and conservation regulations. Citing from a March Hansard transcript, MLA Frank Oberle asked MLA Pearl Calahasen what was being done to ensure good conservation of wildlife; Pearl answered that “They waited a year to allow Métis hunting to ensure that structures were in place.” There are no structures in place to ensure good conservation practices by the Métis: no monitoring, no licensing, no registration, and no safety or hunter education.
Average licensed hunters are heavily monitored and support this action, while Métis hunt without restrictions.
v Stakeholder Input
This entire process is troublesome and the lack of stakeholder consultation is of concern.
We ask that increased stakeholder involvement be a critical component of future discussions regarding this agreement.
Contact information:
Mr. Brent Watson
President,
Alberta Bowhunters Association
10238 -110 Avenue
Grande Prairie, Alberta
T8V 1S7
e-mail: bcwatson@telusplanet.net
780.539.9811