How you can help the caribou herds

(above) BQCMB ad from Above & Beyond magazine, September 2006. Click here for full image. ( 2.5 MB PDF)

An English/Inuktitut ad from the Nunavut edition of News/North, one of the print, radio and cable TV ads that the BQCMB ran in late 2007, urging support for recommendations to protect the Beverly and Qamanirjuaq herds and their habitats. Click here for full image. Or listen to an mp3 radio ad in English or Dene.

The BQCMB, a group of biologists, wildlife managers and aboriginal hunters that advises governments on ways to safeguard the Beverly and Qamanirjuaq caribou, made numerous recommendations for protecting the herds and their habitats from human-caused activity in a position paper submitted to the governments of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Canada, and to other organizations, in the fall of 2004. (Plain language summaries are also available in English, Inuktitut and Dene.) The Board has offered to co-ordinate a multi-agency approach to obtain critical data about the caribou herds and to develop plans for the management of human activities on the caribou ranges.

Everyone's support on this issue is vital. You can help by asking elected representatives to take action to protect the Beverly and Qamanirjuaq caribou herds and their habitats. Every voice will help the BQCMB make sure that caribou remain plentiful and healthy in the future.

• The BQCMB’s position regarding caribou and habitat protection
• Action recommended by the BQCMB for caribou and habitat protection
• Elected representatives
  • Canada
  • Nunavut
  • Northwest Territories
  • Saskatchewan
  • Manitoba

The BQCMB’s position regarding caribou and habitat protection

1. Governments aren’t doing enough to protect the Beverly and Qamanirjuaq caribou herds in the face of increasing levels of human activity on the caribou ranges.
2. The caribou herds should be protected from activities that people, companies or governments do on the land that could harm caribou or the land, lakes and rivers upon which the herds depend.
3. It is especially important to protect:
   • the areas that caribou use while giving birth to their calves (calving areas); and
   • other areas they depend on while the calves are very young (post-calving areas).

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Action recommended by the BQCMB for caribou and habitat protection

• Designate traditional calving grounds and post-calving areas as legally protected areas. This would stop human activities from harming these essential habitats, and prevent caribou and newborn calves from being disturbed while in these areas.
• Protect the herds at other times of the year through improved and enforced Caribou Protection Measures. Caribou Protection Measures are restrictions on development activities permitted on the caribou ranges. These Measures would protect caribou during key periods and in specific areas outside protected areas, but wouldn't provide long-term protection for lands and waters.
• Learn more about the combined effects of many changes (such as climate change and development activity) to ensure caribou habitat outside protected areas is changed as little as possible. This would include creating computer models to predict the possible cumulative effects of more proposed developments.
• Map calving and post-calving areas regularly to help identify boundaries for legally protected areas. The first calving ground survey in 14 years of the Qamanirjuaq herd finally took place in June 2008. An attempted calving ground survey of the Beverly herd in 2007 was largely grounded due to bad weather (that herd, like the Qamanirjuaq herd, had last been surveyed in 1994). The federal government also stopped funding the Caribou Protection Measures’ monitoring program, which mapped calving and post-calving areas, in 1991.
• Develop several regional land use plans and one conservation plan to establish which land use activities will be permitted on different parts of the caribou ranges, and to provide improved communication and coordination among jurisdictions and caribou management boards. Only the Keewatin Regional Land Use Plan in Nunavut exists now, and it needs to be updated with better directions for protecting the herds.
• Consult with northerners before any recommendations go ahead. It's very important to make sure caribou herds are healthy and continue to do well in the future. However, governments must ensure people realize that actions taken to protect caribou and habitat may affect economic development as well.

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Elected representatives

Canada

1. The Hon. Chuck Strahl
Minister, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
House of Commons
Ottawa ON K1A 0A6
Phone: (613) 992-2940
Fax: (613) 944-9376
E-mail: strahl.c@parl.gc.ca

Nunavut

1. The Hon. Dan Shewchuk
Minister, Department of Environment
(also MLA for Arviat)
P.O. Box 1200
Legislative Building
Iqaluit NU X0A 0H0
Phone: (867) 975-5024
Fax: (867) 975-5095
E-mail: thughes@gov.nu.ca

Constituency address
Arviat NU X0C 0E0
Phone: (867) 857-4485
Fax: (867) 857-4486

2. Leona Aglukkaq
MP for Nunavut
House of Commons
460 Confederation Building
Ottawa ON K1A 0A6
Phone: (613) 992-2848
Fax: (613) 996-9764
E-mail: Aglukkaq.L@parl.gc.ca
Web Site: www.leonaaglukkaq.ca/EN/5215/

3. Moses Aupaluktuq
MLA for Baker Lake
P.O. Box 1200
Iqaluit NU X0A 0H0
Phone: (867) 975-5030
Fax: (867) 975-5108
E-mail: maupaluktuq@assembly.nu.ca or maupaluktuq@netkaster.ca

Constituency address
Baker Lake NU X0C 0A0
Phone: (867) 793-4949
Fax: (867) 793-4950

4. Hon. Tagak Curley
MLA for Rankin Inlet North
P.O. Box 1200
Iqaluit NU X0A 0H0
Phone: (867) 975-5027
Fax: (867) 975-5121
E-mail: tcurley@gov.nu.ca

Constituency address
P.O. Box 874
Rankin Inlet NU X0C 0G0
Phone: (867) 645-4900
Fax: (867) 645-4981

5. Lorne Kusugak
MLA for Rankin Inlet South/Whale Cove
P.O. Box 1200
Iqaluit NU X0A 0H0
Phone: (867) 975-5020
Fax: (867) 975-5095
E-mail: lkusugak@gov.nu.ca

Constituency address
Rankin Inlet NU X0C 0G0
Phone: (867) 645-4866
Fax: (867) 645-4865

6. Jose Kusugak
President
Kivalliq Inuit Association
P.O. Box 340
Sakku Building
Rankin Inlet NU X0C 0G0
Phone: (867) 645-5725 or 1-800-220-6581
Fax: (867) 645-2348
E-mail: jkusugak@kivalliqinuit.ca

7. Paul Kaludjak
President
Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.
P.O. Box 638
Iqaluit NU X0A 0H0
Phone: (867) 975-4900 or toll-free 1-888-646-0006
Fax: (867) 975-4948

8. John Hickes, Mayor
Hamlet of Rankin Inlet
P.O. Box 310
Rankin Inlet NU X0C 0G0
Phone: (867) 645-2895
Fax: (867) 645-2146

9. David Aksawnee, Mayor
Hamlet of Baker Lake
P.O. Box 149
Baker Lake NU X0C 0A0
Phone: (867) 793-2874
Fax: (867) 793-2509

10. Harry Tootoo, Mayor
Hamlet of Chesterfield Inlet
P.O. Box 10
Chesterfield Inlet NU X0C 0B0
Phone: (867) 898-9926
Fax: (867) 898-9108

11. Robert Leonard, Mayor
Hamlet of Arviat
P.O. Box 150
Arviat NU X0C 0E0
Phone: (867) 857-2841
Fax: (867) 857-2519

12. Percy Kabloona, Mayor
Hamlet of Whale Cove
P.O. Box 120
Whale Cove NU X0C 0J0
Phone: (867) 896-9961
Fax: (867) 896-9109

Northwest Territories

1. The Hon. Michael Miltenberger
Minister, Department of Environment and Natural Resources
P.O. Box 1320
Legislative Assembly
Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9
Phone: (867) 669-2355
Fax: (867) 873-0169
E-mail: michael_miltenberger@gov.nt.ca

2. Dennis Bevington
MP for Western Arctic
House of Commons
Ottawa ON K1A 0A6
Phone: (613) 992-4587 or 1-800-992-4587
Fax: (613) 992-1586
E-mail: bevind@parl.gc.ca

Constituency address
Donald M. Cooper Building, First Floor
4908 - 49th Street
P.O. Box 1986
Yellowknife NT X1A 2P5
Phone: (867) 873-6995
Fax: (867) 920-4233

4. Betty Villebrun, President
Northwest Territory Métis Nation
206 McDougal Road
P.O. Box 720
Fort Smith NT X0E 0P0
Phone: (867) 872-2770
Fax: (867) 872-2772
E-mail: president.nwtmn@northwestel.net

5. Ken Hudson, President
Fort Smith Métis Council
174 McDougal Road
P.O. Box 147
Fort Smith NT X0E 0P0
Phone: (867) 872-2643
Fax: (867) 872-5225
E-mail: fortsmithmetiscouncil@northwestel.net

6. Garry Bailey, President
Fort Resolution Métis Council
P.O. Box 1921
Fort Resolution NT X0E 0M0
Phone: (867) 394-4151
Fax: (867) 394-3322
E-mail: frmc53@yahoo.ca

7. Steven Nitah, Chief
Lutsel Ke Dene First Nation
P.O. Box 28
Lutsel K'e NT X0E 1A0
Phone: (867) 370-7004
Fax: (867) 370-3010
E-mail: interagency_lutselke@hotmail.com

8. Jane Hobart, Mayor
The Town of Fort Smith
174 McDougal Rd.
P.O. Box 147
Fort Smith NT X0E 0P0
Phone: (867) 872-8400
Fax: (867) 872-8401
Email: townoffortsmith@northwestel.net

9. Freida Martselos, Chief
Salt River First Nation #195
P.O. Box 960
Fort Smith NT X0E 0P0
Phone: (867) 872-2986
Fax: (867) 872-3550
Email: chief@srfn195.com

10. Elizabeth Ann McKay, Mayor
Fort Resolution -- Deninoo Community Council
General Delivery
Fort Resolution NT X0E 0M0
Phone: (867) 394-4556
Fax: (867) 394-5415
Email: dcc_finance@airware.ca

11. Bill Norn, Chief
Deninu Kue First Nation
P.O. Box 1899
Fort Resolution NT X0E 0M0
Phone: (867) 394-4335
Fax: (867) 394-5122

12. Bill Erasmus, Dene National Chief
Dene Nation
5125 - 50th St.
P.O. Box 2338
Yellowknife NT X1A 2P7
Phone: (867) 873-4081
Fax: (867) 920-2254
Email: berasumus@afn.ca

Saskatchewan

1. The Hon. Nancy Heppner
Minister, Saskatchewan Environment
Room 315
Legislative Building
2405 Legislative Drive
Regina SK S4S 0B3
Phone: (306) 787-0393
Fax: (306) 787-1669
E-mail: minister.env@gov.sk.ca

2. Rob Clarke
MP for Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River, Saskatchewan
House of Commons
Ottawa ON K1A 0A6
Phone: (613) 995-8321
Fax: (613) 995-7697
E-mail: Clarke.R@parl.gc.ca

Constituency address
201 - 2nd St. W.
P.O. Box 1260
Meadow Lake SK S9X 1Y9
Phone: (306) 234-2334 or 1-866-400-2334
Fax: (306) 234-2339

Constituency address
P.O. Box 192
215 La Ronge Ave.
La Ronge SK S0J 1L0
Phone: (306) 425-2525
Fax: (306) 425-2885

4. Hon. Buckley Belanger
MLA for Athabasca
Room 140
Legislative Building
2405 Legislative Dr.
Regina SK S4S 0B3
Phone: (306) 787-0394
Fax: (306) 787-7905
E-mail:  bbelanger@mla.legassembly.sk.ca

Constituency address
P.O. Box 310
Ile-a-la-Crosse SK S0M 1C0
Phone:  (306) 833-3200 or 1-800-239-9820
Fax:  (306) 833-2622

5. Ron Michel, Grand Chief
Prince Albert Grand Council
Opawakoscikan Reserve #201
2300 - 9th Avenue W.
P.O. Box 2350
Prince Albert SK S6V 6Z1
Phone: (306) 953-7200
Fax: (306) 764-6272
E-mail: dmckay@pagc.sk.ca

6. Donald Sayazie, Chief
Black Lake First Nation
P.O. Box 27
Black Lake SK S0J 0H0
Phone: (306) 284-2044
Fax: (306) 284-2101

7. Bart Tsannie, Chief
Hatchet Lake First Nation
General Delivery
Wollaston Lake SK S0J 3C0
Phone: (306) 633-2003
Fax: (306) 633-2040

8. Napoleon Mercredi, Chief
Fond du Lac First Nation
P.O. Box 211
Fond du Lac SK S0J 0W0
Phone: (306) 686-2102
Fax: (306) 686-2040

9. Guy Lonechild, Chief
Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations
Asimakaniseekan Askiy Reserve
Suite 100
103A Packham Ave.
Saskatoon SK S7N 4K4
Phone: (306) 665-1215
Fax: (306) 244-4413
E-mail:  guy.lonechild@fsin.com

10. Dean Klassen, Chairperson for Uranium City
Northern Settlement of Uranium City
C/o Dean Klassen
General Delivery
Uranium City SK S0J 2W0
Phone: (306) 498-3441
Fax: (306) 498-2112

11. Clara Larocque, Mayor for Camsell Portage
Northern Settlement of Uranium City
Phone: (306) 498-3765
Fax: (306) 498-2224

12. Sandra Hanson, Mayor
Hamlet of Stony Rapids
P.O. Box 120
Stony Rapids SK S0J 2R0
Phone: (306) 439-2173
Fax: (306) 439-2098

Manitoba

1. The Hon. Bill Blaikie
Minister, Manitoba Conservation
330 Legislative Building
450 Broadway
Winnipeg MB R3C 0V8
Phone: (204) 945-3730
Fax: (204) 945-3586
E-mail: mincon@leg.gov.mb.ca

2. Niki Ashton
MP for Churchill, Manitoba
House of Commons
Ottawa ON K1A 0A6
Phone: (613) 992-3018
Fax: (613) 996-5817
E-mail: Ashton.N@parl.gc.ca

Constituency address
307 - 83 Churchill Dr.
Thompson MB R8N 0L4
Phone:  1-866-785-0522

3. Gerard Jennissen
MLA for Flin Flon
234 Legislative Building
450 Broadway
Winnipeg MB R3C 0V8
Phone: (204) 945-2936
Fax: (204) 948-2005
E-mail: gerard.jennissen@leg.gov.mb.ca

Constituency address
P. O. Box 331
24 Main St.
Flin Flon MB R8A 1N1

4. Hon. Eric Robinson
MLA for Rupertsland
344 Legislative Building
450 Broadway
Winnipeg MB R3C 0V8
Phone: (204) 945-3719
Fax: (204) 945-8374
E-mail: minna@leg.gov.mb.ca

5. David Harper, Grand Chief
Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanok Inc.
6th Floor-338 Broadway
Winnipeg MB R3C 0T2
Phone: (204) 927-7500 or 1-800-442-0488
Cell phone: (204) 612-3864
Fax: (204) 927-7509
E-mail: dharper@mkonorth.com

6. Arnold Ouskan, Tribal Chief
Keewatin Tribal Council
Suite 102
83 Churchill Dr.
Thompson MB R8N 0L6
Phone: (204) 677-2341
Fax: (204) 677-3963
E-mail: arnoldouskan@ktc.ca

7. Russell Halkett, Chief
Barren Lands First Nation
General Delivery
Brochet MB R0B 0B0
Phone: (204) 323-2300
Fax: (204) 323-2275

8. Ila Bussidor, Chief
Sayisi Dene First Nation
General Delivery
Tadoule Lake MB R0B 2C0
Phone: (204) 684-2022
Fax: (204) 684-2069

9. Joseph Dantouze, Chief
Northlands First Nation
General Delivery
Lac Brochet MB R0B 2E0
Phone: (204) 337-2270
Fax: (204) 337-2055

10. Christopher Baker, Chief
O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation
P.O. Box 139
South Indian Lake MB R0B 1N0
Phone: (204) 374-2271
Fax: (204) 374-2350

11. Mike Spence, Mayor
Town of Churchill
P.O. Box 459
Churchill MB R0B 0E0
Phone: (204) 675-8871
Fax: (204) 675-2934
E-mail: townofchurchill@mts.net

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