First Nations leaders near Kluane National Park in the Yukon say they are simply exercising their rights by asking Ottawa to open the park up to First Nations hunting.

The Kluane National Park Management Board plans to ask federal Environment Minister John Baird to lift existing “no-harvest zones” in areas around Haines Junction, where the national park is located.

First Nations members on the board argued that the “no-harvest zones” were put in place temporarily under their land-claim agreements, and now should be removed.

They also noted that Parks Canada, which operates national parks, has recognized the value of First Nations traditional activity in its parks.

“The threat to ecological integrity is not aboriginal people conducting harvesting activities, but the threat to ecological integrity is the absence of aboriginal people doing those things within the park,” Lawrence Joe, lands director with the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations, told CBC News on Wednesday.

Kluane park superintendent Michael Riseborough, a non-voting member of the board, confirmed to CBC News that the board’s recommendation will be going to Baird’s office, but could not discuss the details.

Joe said hunting bears in the park would remain prohibited. He said removing the no-harvest zones should have little impact on other animals, since First Nations currently take a single moose a year from the park.
Decision made ‘quietly,’ former board member says

The management plan for Kluane National Park has been under review for the last four years, as per the land-claim agreements worked out with the First Nations.

Former board member Wolf Riedl said non-native residents were shocked to hear of the board’s proposal at a public meeting earlier this week.

“The decision goes quietly and secretly off to Ottawa and the first we hear about what happened is when it’s done,” Riedl said. “It just kind of happened quietly behind doors.”

The board will accept public comment on the issue until the end of the week, park officials said.

Riedl raised concerns about hunting in parts of the park where hikers and tourists are present.

“Hunting around a popular visitor spot like Kathleen Lake … or like the Oriole Trail outside of Haines Junction are hunting there is not a good idea,” Riedl said.

“Firearms and visiting hikers or non-harvesters don’t go well together.”

Joe dismissed concerns about potential conflicts between hunters and park visitors.

“Parks [Canada] has an obligation to educate people using the park that they may encounter aboriginal people that are exercising their harvesting rights,” he said.

The management board’s recommendation is expected to go to Baird within the next month. Baird will then have 60 days to accept, reject or change the board’s proposal.