Ten Canadian Native First Nations declared a ban on trophy bear hunting in their territory. For years, the tribes have solicited the government of the western Canadian province of British Columbia (B.C.) to take a similar action to no avail, so they have now declared their own moratorium.

However, a spokesman for the coalition of tribes, William Housty, said the First Nations cannot write citations for hunting on their land without the backing of the local government. British Columbian officials have shown no support of the ban.

“Because we have not ceded any of this land to anybody, we feel that we have a voice and should have a voice in how these lands are managed and this includes the bear hunt,” Housty told the CBC. He added that bear hunting threatens their ecotourist bear-watching industry.

Numerous outfitters in the area currently offer both grizzly and black bear hunts. The hunting industry contributes about $350 million to the province annually, according to Steve Thomson, B.C. Minister of Forests. About $120 million of that is commercial revenue from the guides and outfitting business, according to Scott Ellis, executive director of the Guide Outfitters Association of British Columbia.

Ellis said that B.C.’s hunting is science-based and does not harm the bear population. He told The Globe and Mail that only about 2 percent of the overall bear population is taken by hunters.

Minister Thomson said that 58 percent of the First Nations’ coastal territory is already closed to grizzly bear hunting. He also stated that the government has already implemented ecosystem-based management that takes into consideration the salmon run and how it affects bears and other species.

Where's my popcorn...

I don't see why Indians even have the rights they do. (I mean rights us non Indians don't have). Man, the whole Indian topic gets my blood boiling.

I haven't followed this at all. Really just stumbled upon it because there isn't much being posted today elsewhere so forgive my lack of knowledge of the subject.

However, Am I reading this correctly that the Indian's are now becoming "Anti's"?

quote:

Originally posted by BigUglyMan:
Where's my popcorn...

Todd, it appears that here in BC the natives have joined forces with the anti hunting groups to shut down trophy hunting. There historicly never hunted bears as most natives feel there was some sort of weird connection with them. The first nations in BC are really throwing their weight around. There is alot of bad feelings in the hunting communitiy towards the first nations here in BC, because of their continual blockadeing and trying to keep the legal hunters out.
The first nation bands here in BC are the worst wild life offenders as far as conservation, killing mostly does and cow elk and moose, alot of times for dogs food, or illegal sales.
Sorry for the rant, I better stop now as I feel my blood pressure rising.

So.....how much are the "anti's" paying them for this vote???? must be more than the trophy fees they will get from the bears that were/will be taken from their areas or i bet they wouldn't be pushing the matter???

True true. They don't appose anything unless there's money involved, (ie northern gateway pipeline). The 'our lands' 'our heritage' and concern for the environment that we see on tv is all pure BS. Its a cover saying right us a check.