Deer Lake -
Howley-based outfitter Ray Broughton has some serious concerns about the fate of the endangered Red Wine caribou herd as well as the George River caribou herd that range between Happy Valley-Goose Bay and Churchill Falls in central Labrador.
He is concerned because about 150 Quebec Innu hunters have crossed the border into Labrador and been killing more than 100 caribou in the area.
"What we have here is not Labrador Innu but Quebec Innu that have crossed into Labrador and are slaughtering, killing - a massacre of an endangered caribou herd up there," said Broughton.
Broughton said there are less than 100 Red Wine caribou left.
The hunt is thought to be a political move, for the Quebec Innu to show their feelings on a land deal, the New Dawn Agreement, benefitting Labrador Innu through the development of hydroelectric power in the Lower Churchill River. Benefits include hunting rights to land and financial compensation to flooding in the area due to the construction of the hydroelectric facility about 40 years ago.
The agreement was slated in 2008 between the provincial government and the Labrador Innu and last week, the Innu communities signed an agreement legalizing the New Dawn Agreement.
Broughton said he realizes the damage has been done and what rubs him the wrong way is how conservation officers or the provincial government handled the situation.
"What was done about it? Zero, nothing. Action? No. I don't know where the people are … no one is stepping up to the plate … If it's beyond the scope of conservation officers to handle the problem, turn it over to law enforcement. If you had to have a standoff, so be it. If they cant handle it, turn it over to the military. Bottom line: boot these hoodlums out," he said.
Broughton said he feels there is a double standard.
"If it was residents, you would be charged … The Quebec Innu are in here and what they're endeavouring to do, is totally wrong. The real problem is, where is our regulatory agency that's responsible for the protection of the animals," he said.
"The law's the law. I realize it's a volatile situation and a difficult situation but that's what elected officials are put in there for. Sometimes you have to step up to the plate and say enough is enough. You let people flaunt the law, rub it in your nose and continue to do it, you step up to the plate and say 'no, this is it.' This wasn't handled properly at all," he said.
Broughton said he can see how the situation will be played out, with the hunt finishing up in a day or two.
"The Quebec Innu will leave with their 150-200 caribou. The Red Wine herd will be decimated. I can script it right to the tee. And it will be out of sight, out of mind syndrome," he said.
