Minister Aglukkaq convened meeting with governments, aboriginal groups to discuss polar bear population
October 10, 2014 – Ottawa, Ontario – Environment Canada
Recently, the Government of Canada facilitated a meeting with provincial and territorial governments, as well as hunters, Inuit, Cree organizations, and Wildlife Management Boards, that led to a new agreement to maintain effective management and conservation of the Southern Hudson Bay polar bear subpopulation.
The Government of Canada and the Government of Nunavut are pleased that the user groups were able to come to a consensus on voluntary limits on the annual harvest of Southern Hudson Bay polar bears, in order to ensure sustainability of the subpopulation.
Minister Leona Aglukkaq met with participants to discuss the essential role that the polar bear hunt plays in preserving the traditional way of life in Aboriginal communities that depend on subsistence hunting. Through these discussions, participants agreed on the importance of improving how both aboriginal traditional knowledge and science are brought together to support decision-making for the management and conservation of polar bears.
“I would like to commend all participants at the recent meetings, who worked together on developing this important agreement. It was a pleasure to bring together essential stakeholders to discuss the role the polar bear hunt plays in preserving the traditional way of life in Aboriginal communities. To build on this, our Government will continue to work with aboriginal organizations on applying traditional knowledge and science to support our world class management of this species and to improve our decision-making processes.”
The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of the Environment, Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency and Minister for the Arctic Council
“Nunavut supports this consensus decision by those who harvest from the Southern Hudson Bay polar bear subpopulation. This agreement is an important step in creating a sustainable long-term management plan that will ensure a healthy population of bears and a sustainable harvest for Inuit and Cree. It is important that all jurisdictions continue to work together to effectively manage our shared stewardship of the Southern Hudson Bay polar bear subpopulation.”
The Honourable Johnny Mike, Minister of Environment, Government of Nunavut
“All animals including polar bears and their environment are important, respected and vital to Inuit. While we still need to work towards better recognition and use of Inuit knowledge, this voluntary agreement reflects our commitment to conservation and co-management.”
James Eetoolook, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.
“The world needs to listen to people who live amongst these polar bears because we have much to offer in terms of oral history. Inuit traditional knowledge has always instructed us never to waste and always harvest sustainably. We look forward to working with different levels of government on continuing to improve the use of traditional knowledge in the conservation and management of polar bears across Canada. When we incorporate traditional knowledge with science, management decisions can only be more effective.”
Adamie Delisle Alaku, Executive Vice President, Makivik Corporation
Click here (PDF; 58.8 KB) to view this news release in Inuktitut.
Ted Laking
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Office of the Minister of the Environment
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Eric Blair
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Government of Nunavut
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