The Tłı̨chǫ Grand Chief Jackson Lafferty is advocating for a halt to winter hunts in response to concerning reports of ongoing decline in two caribou herds. Recent population surveys indicate that the Bluenose-East herd now stands at 28,759 animals, a decrease from the 39,525 counted in 2023. The Bathurst herd has dwindled to 3,609 animals, marking a 47% drop from 2022 and a significant decline from the over 470,000 caribou present in the 1980s.
Expressing deep concern over the persistent decrease, Lafferty emphasized the significant sacrifices made by the Tłı̨chǫ people. Since 2015, harvesting of the Bathurst herd has been under a moratorium, managed through a Mobile Core Bathurst Caribou Conservation Area.
The Tłı̨chǫ Government is proposing various measures to safeguard the herds, including implementing a five-year pause on winter hunting starting in 2027. Lafferty pointed out that winter roads facilitate easier access for hunters, allowing them to harvest more caribou compared to the fall season when access is restricted to planes, limiting the number of animals that can be harvested per trip.
Additionally, the Tłı̨chǫ Government is considering suggesting a three-kilometer-wide “voluntary no-shooting corridor” along the Tibbitt to Contwoyto winter road to further protect the caribou. Lafferty intends to present these initiatives to other Indigenous governments during upcoming Council of Leaders meetings while stressing the importance of enhancing education and awareness within communities about sustainable and respectful harvesting practices.
Biologist Allicia Kelly from the N.W.T. government highlighted several factors contributing to the herds’ decline, including movement between herds. She noted a higher percentage of Bathurst cows migrating to neighboring herds to calve, particularly the Beverly herd, which has seen a significant increase of 50,000 animals between 2017 and 2023.
Kelly emphasized the significance of calf and cow survival rates in assessing the herds’ status, underscoring the need to integrate Indigenous knowledge and land-user observations for a comprehensive understanding of the situation.