BC Conservation Officers and Tahltan Nation to work together this fall on Wildlife stewardship

Members of the BC Conservation Officer Service and
Department of Fisheries during a Northwest patrol this week
(Photo from BCOS twitter feed)

Travellers in and around the Tahltan Nation will see an increased presence of BC Conservation Officers this fall throughout the territory; that as the provincial agency and Tahltan Guardians work towards a cooperative approach to wildlife stewardship.

An announcement today from the British Columbia government noted how the joint effort is part of a further reconciliation process. As well as to how it respects and supports the Thaltan Nation's work of wildlife population, food security and community safety, while also ensuring hunting access for licensed hunters visiting the Territory this hunting season.

“Wildlife and wildlife management is critically important to the Tahltan way of life. The B.C. and Tahltan governments are committed to working together on wildlife management for the benefit of the Tahltan and all British Columbians. This is part of the reconciliation path that we all walk together in support of prosperity for future generations.” -- Katrine Conroy, Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development.

Some of the controversy of the past and how a unified approach may provide solutions also made for some of the narrative towards today's relay of information. 

Safety within the Tahltan Territory is of high concern going into the 2021 hunting season. After a contentious hunting season last year, both governments hope that a unified approach, which is respectful of Tahltan traditional and cultural practices on the land, will support a better experience for all hunters in the region, including visitors and Tahltan members as they exercise their constitutionally protected Aboriginal hunting rights.

Chad Day, President of the Tahltan Central Government.  provided the view on how the Tahltan Nation views the initiative and how it will work towards its relationship with the provincial government.

“From birth, Tahltans are taught of their responsibility to steward our land,” said Chad Day, President of the Tahltan Central Government. The Tahltan Central Government will continue working with the province to improve wildlife management in Tahltan Territory grounded in the principles of respect and recognition of Tahltan rights and title. The Tahltan Nation is committed to building a world-class wildlife management regime to help ensure there are plentiful wildlife populations that are properly managed using Tahltan knowledge and modern-day science. I am proud of our accomplishments and excited for what the future holds as we work to evolve and strengthen our relationship with the Province of British Columbia.”

You can review the full statement here.

The BC Conservation Officer Service was recently in the Northwest region working with Department of Fisheries and Oceans  Officers on joint enforcement patrols of area rivers.

More notes on items from the provincial government can be reviewed through our Legislature Archive pages.

Items of interest on Emergency Responders and law enforcement in the region can be reviewed here.