GNWT and Tłı̨chǫ Government submit joint wolf management plan to support caribou recovery.

 Both the Bathurst and Bluenose-East caribou herds have experienced rapid declines in recent years, and the GNWT has heard clearly from its co-management partners that more needs to be done to manage predators to support caribou during this period of decline.

 This five-year joint proposal on wolf management is based on the best available scientific, traditional and local knowledge, including the experience of wolf management programs conducted elsewhere and numerous discussions with harvesters, residents and communities.

 The joint proposal prioritizes the traditional economy of the Northwest Territories and the role of wolf harvesters in caribou recovery efforts. It proposes additional training for wolf harvesters and increased support for community-based wolf harvesting through the Enhanced North Slave Wolf Harvest Incentive Program. Research and monitoring will help improve our knowledge of wolf population dynamics and allow us to adapt our management actions over the five years to maximize impacts on caribou recovery.

 The joint proposal is now before the Wek’èezhìı Renewable Resources Board (WRRB) for review.

“Our people have been talking about the caribou for a long time. The caribou are in danger and we all need want to do more to assist in their recovery. We have had meetings with our Elders and our traditional knowledge affirms that wolves are an important animal and must be treated with great respect even when harvesting them. We are committed to the training of our harvesters for the purpose of a controlled wolf harvest using Tłı̨chǫ traditional knowledge practices in the wintering ranges of the Bluenose East and Bathurst Caribou. It is time to put stronger actions in place before it is too late for the caribou.”  - Grand Chief George Mackenzie, Tłı̨chǫ Government