Central Government · harvest information from resident hunters in the most frequented locations....

Central Government

W I L D L I F E N E W S L E T T E R 2 0 1 9

CONTENTSPresident's Message | Chad Norman Day 1

Wildlife Director’s Message | Lance Nagwan 3

Guardians Messages

Brianna Tashoots 5

Clements Brace 8

Tahltan Land Stewardship Planning | Alanna Quock 11

Successful Hunts by Tahltans 13

Tahltan Guide & Outfitters Association Message 19

Tahltan Nation Trapline Map 21

3 Nations and British Columbia Collaborative Stewardship 23 Forum Update | Feddie Louie and Linda Robertson

Message from the Province of British Columbia 24 Chris Hamilton, Ron Frank and Kate Hewitt

Message from the BC Wildlife Federation | Rob Chipman 25

Tseneglode Woodland Caribou Project Update 27 Lance Nagwan and Norm Maclean

Tahltan BC G2G Fish and Wildlife Working Group (FWWG) | Norm Maclean 29

Hunting Regulations 31

TA H LTA N C E N T R A L G OV E R N M E N T W I L D L I F E N E W S L E T T E R – 2 0 1 9

1

President’s Message

Chad Norman DayPresident, Tahltan Central Government

As we know, last summer we in Tahltan Territory went

through unprecedented impacts from multiple wildfires

that displaced many of our citizens and demolished

multiple homes and over a thousand hectares of our

land and forests. Like our local Tahltan people, many of

the wildlife also were displaced as the fire drove them

out of their habitat. As we continue to work together as

a Tahltan Nation to rebuild and restore the community

of Telegraph Creek, we remain focused on working

alongside many stakeholders to better measure and

manage wildlife populations throughout Tahltan Territory.

Since we established TCG’s Wildlife Department several

years ago, we have worked diligently to increase the

department’s capacity, training, collaborations and

initiatives each year. Our team has also been implementing

our collaborative agreement with the Tahltan Guide &

Outfitters Association (TGOA) and increased the number

of wildlife initiatives and funding flowing through the

3Nations Team (Tahltan, Kaska, Tlingit). The TCG also

secured millions of dollars from provincial and federal

funding opportunities for our Tahltan Land Stewardship

Plan (TLSP) and we will continue to have wildlife experts

involved in all land stewardship planning activities.

For several months multiple TCG staff members and

I have been involved with First Nations groups and

wildlife staff across BC. This forum is working with the

Province to amend and “indigenize” the outdated BC

Wildlife Act; expect to see some significant changes

in 2020. Such work will help the Tahltan Nation and

other BC First Nations enhance capacity and ensure we

are increasingly involved in wildlife management and

wildlife decision making processes.

As stewards of our homelands we

must ensure we have healthy wildlife

populations for future generations.

Predator management was an essential

part of Tahltan wildlife stewardship

and keeping our communities safe,

but harvesting predators has become

increasingly unpopular across British

Columbia and many politicians and First

Nations are neglecting to address the issue.

As a result, I have consistently been the voice of reason

on this topic and you may see TCG become increasingly

involved in advocating for more science-based decisions

and reintegrating more indigenous practices into wildlife

management regimes.

I am extremely proud of the work of TCG’s Wildlife Department and believe our collaborative approach with several wildlife stakeholders is the key to improving wildlife management across British Columbia.”

Welcome to the 2019/2020 Tahltan Central Government

(TCG) Wildlife Newsletter. Thank you to all those wildlife

stakeholders across British Columbia who took the time

to contribute messages, statistics and updates for this

important resource.

2

P R E S I D E N T ' S M E S S AG E

I am extremely proud of the work of TCG’s Wildlife

Department and believe our collaborative approach

with several wildlife stakeholders is the key to improving

wildlife management across British Columbia. That being

said, the Tahltan Nation takes up 11% of the province

and we as Tahltan people need to work together to hold

hunters accountable when they break provincial laws or

behave unethically under our Tahltan laws. Please help

us document anything of concern that you witness to

help us manage our wildlife and lands more effectively.

We are all in this together.

In closing, I want to acknowledge that our

original Wildlife Guardian and trailblazer

of our current Wildlife Department, Jarett

Quock, returned to Tahltan Territory

following several months of battling cancer

and other challenges with his health. We

are truly happy to see him on the road

to recovery and we dedicate all of this

year’s continued success in the Wildlife

Department to Jarett. We look forward to

him rejoining his TCG Family whenever he

is ready to return and continue to pray for

him and his family during this time.

Mēduh and Nedishchā!


3

Wildlife Director’s Message

Lance NagwanWildlife Director

This fall harvest season, the Guardians patrol Tahltan

Territory daily, conducting hunter surveys and collecting

harvest information from resident hunters in the most

frequented locations. We put up moose regulations

signage in specific locations to assure that the hunters

entering the Territory clearly identify hunting regulations.

This summer saw the Guardians program involved in

every aspect of the Morel Mushroom Program. Guardians

issued Non-Timber Harvesting Permits and patrolled

to ensure harvesters respected the land and removed

all garbage. The Guardians program then evolved to

participate in joint Provincial inspections of placer

mining in the Territory. Although the Tahltan Wildlife

Department is still in its early stages, we continue to

build capacity and confidence as we participate in more

programs such as Transboundary Water Sampling

on the Unuk and Lower Stikine Rivers. Recently all

the Guardians completed the Human Wildlife Conflict

Training taught by Conservation Officer Blake Day here in

Dease Lake. Among other lessons, Officer Day taught the

importance of managing attractants to avoid unwanted

encounters with dangerous animals.

We continue to work with TGOA on projects to

guide future management actions with the Mineral

Industry and Province. Our 3 Nations-BC Collaborative

Stewardship Framework continues to provide a positive

avenue for jointly managing the natural environment

within our respective territories. Funding provided

capacity for a Guardian position and special projects

within Tahltan Territory.

This fall harvest season, the Guardians patrol Tahltan Territory daily, conducting hunter surveys and collecting harvest information from resident hunters in the most frequented locations.”

Since I became the Wildlife Director for Tahltan Central

Government in April 2019, I’ve watched the color of the

leaves change, signalling that summer is now behind us

and hunting season is here. I hope that you had a chance

to go out and enjoy this beautiful land and I would like to

wish you a safe and bountiful harvest.

Over these past six months, I have had an

enormous learning curve but I feel accomplished in

the strides the Wildlife Department has made thus

far. I represent the Tahltan Nation as a member of

the Provincial Fish and Wildlife Working Group and

the 3 Nations Technical Working Group, which has

been a great opportunity and privilege.

The position is multi-faceted and dynamic in nature. I

very much enjoy how the daily tasks can range widely.

I manage an amazing crew that are always happy and

a pleasure to be around. Their traditional knowledge

of the land and animals is invaluable to me and my

understanding of many aspects of this job.

4

W I L D L I F E D I R E C T O R S ' M E S S AG E


5

Guardians Messages

Brianna Tashoots Wildlife Guardian

TCG provided me professional training in Wilderness First

Aid, Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem Classification (BEC) and

Conflict Wildlife. The BEC course taught us to conduct

ecosystem identification under BC’s BEC system. It was a

hands-on field course taught by three ecology experts.

The first project Clements and I worked on, along with the

Lands Department, was the Tahltan Non-Timber Resource

Permitting program. The program focuses on the morel

mushrooms that grew from the Alkali Lake Fire last

summer. The Lands Department brought in Shelby Leslie

from Forest Food to train us on how to approach, permit,

and deal with the mushroom pickers. The project went

well; mushroom buyers and pickers were cooperative.

Since this past May, I have learned so much and worked with

many knowledgeable people on different projects within

the Wildlife Department for the Tahltan Central Government

(TCG). I will be returning to the Okanagan in December 2019

for my 3rd year in Environmental Science. Being a Guardian

in Tahltan Territory is a learning experience. Also, gaining

knowledge and grasping a better understanding of our vast

land is a privilege. Working with TCG’s full-time Guardian,

Clements Brace, taught me so much local knowledge.

Other projects in the works include the Stone’s sheep

data collection. Starting in early June, Clements, Grace

(a biologist from University of Alberta), and I began

monitoring the mountains around the Jade Boulder

road. We collected sheep poop to test their stress levels,

which may be elevated by increasing activity on the Jade

Boulder road. I especially enjoy this project as we get

to spend lots of time in the mountains chasing around

sheep. It is really neat to understand how the sheep

migrate between mountain ranges.

Over the summer, I have been involved with the Province

on joint inspections looking at jade, placer, and major

mines. In addition, we saw several exploration and drilling

sites and spent time with some guide outfitters in Tahltan

Territory. For the jade and placer mines, we focused on

environmental protections, reclamations and health and

safety. At Red Chris Mine, we did a side-by-side water

sampling with their Environment team. I also flew from

drill to drill around the AltaGas Camp and Galore Creek

Camp to ensure everything was safe, the environment

was not being impacted and the proper tickets were

obtained by the managers. We also conducted grazing

inspections, which focused on the environmental impact

that the outfitters and their horses may cause, by looking

at all plant and vegetation around their camps.

Flying all over the Territory was an

amazing opportunity for me to see how

beautiful our land really is and gives me

only more motivation to do my best to

protect and manage our land, animals,

and resources. Joining the Province and

watching how they conduct inspections

helped improve my understanding; I hope

to focus on this field more in university.

Thank you to TCG and the Wildlife Director, Lance, for all

the learning opportunities and motivation to finish my

schooling, which will assist me in pursuing a permanent

job within my Nation and using my knowledge of the

environment to ensure proper and adequate protection,

along with recreational and resource use.

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G U A R D I A N S M E S S AG E S – B R I A N N A TA S H O O T S


7

8

G U A R D I A N S M E S S AG E S – C L E M E N T S B R AC E

Clements Brace Wildlife Guardian

Another year has come and gone and I’m ready for the

next. Mēduh to TCG for letting me take care of our land

and our people by protecting the animals and the water

of our beautiful Tahltan Territory.

The Lands Department developed a Mushroom

Harvesting Management Plan to ensure the protection

of our land and resources. This was a very important

project for us as Guardians and it turned out really well.

Mushroom pickers came from all over Canada, even from

all around the world. We Guardians had an important role

managing and monitoring all their activity. We also take

on major roles concerning the environment, wildlife, and

natural resources in Tahltan Territory.

On our Jade Boulder Project, we keep track of Stone’s

sheep mortality and habitat. Through a collaborative effort

between TCG and TGOA, our project focuses on the impact

of the industrial resource road up Jade Boulder. This work

provides critical information on the seasonal and daily

movements of Stone’s sheep around Jade Boulder Road.

With the BC Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum

Resources and the Alaska Departments of

Environmental Conservation, Fish and Game and

Natural Resources, we joined a joint water monitoring

program for the Unuk and lower Stikine Rivers.

Our caribou collaring project on the Tseneglode Herd is

a big advancement for how we monitor climate change

in Tahltan Territory.

As Guardians, we see the heavy pressure on

wildlife in our Territory. Monitoring and keeping our

land and waters in check is a big step forward. For

TCG, working side-by-side with the government has

been very successful. It’s been a great experience

taking on all these projects.

I cannot wait to see what’s in the near future for us

Guardians and I am excited to take on more with the

Province and the TCG team. Dealing with the high

number of wolves in and around Tahltan Territory is a

challenge but we’ve had some success. Bringing back

the ungulate population is an ongoing process. It’s been

a very busy year as a Guardian. Great work and mēduh

to all of our TCG team.


9

10

G U A R D I A N S M E S S AG EBelow: Tseneglode Herd.


11

Tahltan Land Stewardship PlanningHow will this affect wildlife?

Over the past year we made significant progress on land

planning initiatives that will support our efforts to effectively

manage wildlife in our Tahltan Territory. Work on the

Tahltan Land Stewardship Plan (TLSP) began at the 2016

AGA. This past July at the 2019 AGA, Christine Creyke,

Lands Director, and I presented the first draft of the plan

to Tahltan membership. We are now working on how to

put our plan into action.

Alanna QuockLand Planning Project Manger

... we are focusing on three areas for the IPCA project: Sheslay, Ice Mountain and the Klappan Sacred Headwaters Zone. We chose these areas because they include important wildlife habitat and provide high sustenance value to our communities. ”

Another land planning initiative is the Tahltan

Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area (IPCA)

Project, supported by funding we recently received

from the Pathway to Canada Target 1 Challenge

Component of the Canada Nature Fund. This is a

significant opportunity to further define and enact

Tahltan stewardship in our territory. The IPCA Project

helps us implement conservation mechanisms for

areas identified by the TLSP process as having cultural,

ecological and sustenance value for Tahltan people.

While we are developing a Tahltan Land Stewardship

Plan for the entire territory, we are focusing on three

areas for the IPCA project: Sheslay, Ice Mountain and

the Klappan Sacred Headwaters Zone. We chose these

areas because they include important wildlife habitat

and provide high sustenance value to our communities.

The Sheslay area is home to the Level Mountain caribou

herd, as well as critical moose habitat and calving areas.

Sheslay is a culturally high use area for the community

of Telegraph Creek, most importantly for sustenance

gathering. The Klappan Sacred Headwaters Zone is an

immense subalpine basin and the birthplace of three

salmon-bearing rivers: the Skeena, Nass and Stikine.

The Klappan is also a high use area for the community

of Iskut. Many animals, highly valued for sustenance

gathering, either migrate through or call the Klappan

area home. Our longstanding relationship with these

three areas continues to this day. They are home to

many resources, including fish and wildlife, which

sustain our people and communities.

Currently we are working to define what an Indigenous

Protected and Conserved Areas means for Tahltan, and

the mechanisms we will use to implement stewardship

objectives and activities. This includes reviewing other

First Nations’ experiences and successes in developing

community-led monitoring, education, and engagement

processes. The review helps us further develop the

Guardians program through the IPCA project. We are

grateful to Tides Canada, the Wilberforce Foundation

and International Boreal Conservation Campaign for

their generous support of this exciting project.

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TA H LTA N L A N D S T E WA R D S H I P P L A N N I N G – H O W W I L L T H I S A F F E C T W I L D L I F E ?

TAH

LTAN

TE

RR

ITO

RY

BO

UN

DA

RY

TAHLTANTERRITORY BOUNDARY

MorleyMorleyLake (MR)Lake (MR)

Fish LakeFish Lake(MR)(MR)

NakinaNakinaRiver (MR)River (MR)

Todagin WMATodagin WMA

Todagin WMATodagin WMA

PITMAN RIVERPROTECTED AREA

FINLAYRUSSEL

PARK

GLADYS LAKEECOLOGICAL

RESERVE

TATLATUI PARK

SPATSIZI PLATEAUWILDERNESS PARK

GREATGLACIER

PARK CHOQUETTE HOTSPRINGS

PARK

SUSTUTPROTECTED

AREA

SUSTUTPARK

LAVAFORKSPARK

BORDERLAKE PARK

TUYAMOUNTAINS

PARK

HORNELINECREEK PARK

ISKUT RIVERHOT SPRINGS

PARK

SPATSIZIHEADWATERS

PARK

MOUNTEDZIZA

PARK

CHUKACHIDAPROTECTED

AREA

DENETIAHCORRIDOR

PROTECTED AREA

KINASKANLAKE PARK

PORTAGEBRULE RAPIDS

PROTECTED AREA

PORTAGE BRULE RAPIDSECOLOGICAL RESERVE

DALL RIVER OLDGROWTH PARK

CRAIG HEADWATERSPROTECTED AREA

HYLANDRIVER PARK

DAMDOCHAXPROTECTED

AREA

DUNE ZA KEYIHPARK [A.K.A.

FROG-GATAGA PARK]

BLUE/DEASE RIVERSECOLOGICAL RESERVE

NINGUNSAWRIVER ECOLOGICAL

RESERVE

STIKINERIVER PARK

CHICKENS NECKMOUNTAIN

ECOLOGICAL RESERVE

NINGUNSAWPARK

TODAGINSOUTH

SLOPE PARK

TA CH'ILA PARK(A.K.A. BOYALAKE PARK)

CHARLIE COLE CREEKECOLOGICAL RESERVE

DENETIAH PARK

ATLIN/ATEIX'GI AANTLEIN PARK

PITMAN RIVERPROTECTED AREA

FINLAYRUSSEL

PARK

GLADYS LAKEECOLOGICAL

RESERVE

TATLATUI PARK

SPATSIZI PLATEAUWILDERNESS PARK

GREATGLACIER

PARK CHOQUETTE HOTSPRINGS

PARK

SUSTUTPROTECTED

AREA

SUSTUTPARK

LAVAFORKSPARK

BORDERLAKE PARK

TUYAMOUNTAINS

PARK

HORNELINECREEK PARK

ISKUT RIVERHOT SPRINGS

PARK

SPATSIZIHEADWATERS

PARK

MOUNTEDZIZA

PARK

CHUKACHIDAPROTECTED

AREA

DENETIAHCORRIDOR

PROTECTED AREA

KINASKANLAKE PARK

PORTAGEBRULE RAPIDS

PROTECTED AREA

PORTAGE BRULE RAPIDSECOLOGICAL RESERVE

DALL RIVER OLDGROWTH PARK

CRAIG HEADWATERSPROTECTED AREA

HYLANDRIVER PARK

DAMDOCHAXPROTECTED

AREA

DUNE ZA KEYIHPARK [A.K.A.

FROG-GATAGA PARK]

BLUE/DEASE RIVERSECOLOGICAL RESERVE

NINGUNSAWRIVER ECOLOGICAL

RESERVE

STIKINERIVER PARK

CHICKENS NECKMOUNTAIN

ECOLOGICAL RESERVE

NINGUNSAWPARK

TODAGINSOUTH

SLOPE PARK

TA CH'ILA PARK(A.K.A. BOYALAKE PARK)

CHARLIE COLE CREEKECOLOGICAL RESERVE

DENETIAH PARK

ATLIN/ATEIX'GI AANTLEIN PARK

Content may not reflect National Geographic's current map policy. Sources: National Geographic, Esri, Garmin, HERE, UNEP-WCMC, USGS, NASA, ESA, METI, NRCAN, GEBCO, NOAA, increment P Corp.

`

`

`

SHESLAYPROPOSEDIPCA

ICE MOUNTAINPROPOSED IPCA

KLAPPAN SACREDHEADWATERS ZONEPROPOSED IPCA

PROPOSED IPCAS IN TAHLTAN TERRITORY

CARIBOU HABITAT

E XISTING PARKS AND PROTECTED ARE AS

SALMON HABITAT

L E G E N D


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SKYE WHITING

My name is Skye Whiting, my mother is

Kathleen Cottrell, her mother is Catherine

Thompson, and her parents were Charley

and Julia Callbreath. My Tahltan name is

Edzona, given to me by my Grandpa Charley.

Successful Hunts by Tahltans

Left: This is my daughter and

me with my first black tail in

2016. I was road hunting with

her and my husband, and this

guy happened to pop his head

out! I got out of the truck and got

a perfect shot. After dragging it

out we got this picture.

Right: Last year my husband and a friend

of ours went hunting on an island together.

We split up from our friend and I saw the

doe first, and of course, the buck came

running out after and my husband was

able to drop him.

We hunt elk, mule, and white tail as well.

My husband has been hunting his whole

life and has been teaching me for the last

several years. We’re very excited to go on

our first moose hunt together in November

as we got a draw.

Our daughter can’t wait until she is old

enough and I’m so excited she’s able to grow

up learning about it.

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S U C C E S S F U L H U N T S B Y TA H LTA N S

DONOVAN WILLIAMS

BLUEBELL LOUIE

People I was with:

∙ Clayton Burger

∙ Sam Burger

∙ Emmett Tashoots

∙ Chad Watts

∙ John Williams

Hunt stats:

∙ 38.5 inch curl

∙ 14.25 bases

∙ 9.5 years old


15

CALVIN CARLICK

AMY DAY-PETERSEN

Moose meat cooking, bumguts cooking,

and random spots of the Territory during

the fall. The one that is on a mountain

looking down at a lake is just above Iskut,

a place called Goat Creek.

July 2019 Hunts:

∙ Top: White Bearded wildebeest from Tanzania

∙ Right top: Black impala from South Africa

∙ Right bottom: Thompson’s gazelle from Tanzania

16


FEDDIE LOUIE

BRIANNA TASHOOTS

A dream became a reality.

Always wanted to get a large bull

moose and I did it. My adrenaline

was still pumping, four hours

later. Thank you for guiding me

Paul Louie, thank you!


17

DARCIE LOUIE

BAILEY QUOCK

I shot the bear between the Burrage

blueberry patch and Bob Quinn. Actually it

was near where my dad, Beal, got one before.

This was my first black bear! I followed

Tahltan tradition and gave it away to the

elders in Iskut.

Klappan School – Iskut BC

Left to right:

Deegah enjoying some Caribou ribs

Daniel Ball & Nicholas Dennis (Spencer’s Flat) Klappan

Bertha Louie & Wayne Dennis (Groundhog Mountain) Klappan

18


FRANK TASHOOTS

SHANE QUOCK

I shot my first ram at Bedford Mountain. I

hiked up there with my dad and we hiked

along the ridge line and came to the rocky

parts. We climbed up above the sheep.

After I shot it we rolled it down the hill

to a better spot to work on it. It was hard

climbing back up!

This was my first ram. I felt a little bit of

excitement and it didn’t really hit me yet that

I shot my first ram! My dad JJ is a very good

teacher. When we got down the mountain

we came out a different spot than where we

went up and as I waited with my pack it hit

me... I got my first ram!

I followed Tahltan traditions and gave away

most of the meat.

Klappan School – Iskut BC

Guiding for Sheslay River

Outfitters, which his family

owns and operates.


19

TGOA has been working on several wildlife initiatives

and continues building on past projects, including the

Stone’s sheep research project which is in its third

and final year. This project has brought attention to our

local Stone’s sheep and will provide information on the

cumulative impacts such as human-caused disturbance,

climate change, and predation. The Wildlife Heath

sampling project is in its fourth year and has provided

valuable information on wildlife health, as well as food

source security for the Tahltan Nation. This year will also

see the delivery of Dr. Naima Jutha’s research project on

local knowledge and its importance to the monitoring of

wildlife population trends. We at the TGOA continue to

contribute to the local communities through our meat

sharing program, annual scholarships for local youth,

and a shared commitment to look after the Tahltan

Territory. Each of these projects has been developed and

executed in conjunction with TCG’s Wildlife Department.

In addition to these projects, TGOA began issuing TCG

permits (in addition to the Provincial permits that

are required) to each of their clients in fall 2018. The

funds generated from these permits contribute to local

wildlife projects and the Guardians program. TGOA,

and research partners, are excited to formally present

the outcomes of their research projects at the 2019

Northern Wildlife Symposium this November 2019.

One of the research projects being presented at the

2019 Wildlife Symposium is the Northwestern BC

Mountain Caribou Health Surveillance Program led

by Dr. Naima Jutha. Dr. Jutha says “understanding the

health status of these animals is an important step

to informing appropriate management strategies

Tahltan Guide & Outfitters Association Message

The Tahltan Guide & Outfitters Association (TGOA) would

like to congratulate the Tahltan Nation for their steps

towards co-management of wildlife in Tahltan Territory.

The Tahltan Nation is leading the way to a more adaptive and

responsible model of wildlife management. The TGOA look

forward to our continued partnership in wildlife research

with the Tahltan Nation.

and action in the Tahltan Territory”. Caribou in British

Columbia are facing the increased pressures of a

changing climate, disturbance, habitat loss, predation,

harvest, and disease. Responding to concerns for

changing caribou numbers and behaviours voiced

by community members and local land-users, TGOA,

TCG, and the BC Wildlife Health Program identified

the need for a collaborative mountain caribou health

surveillance program. A relationship with the University

of Calgary and graduate student, Dr. Naima Jutha, has

led to building a program which uses both scientific

and local knowledge to understand caribou health

in a comprehensive way that includes: diseases and

parasites, measures of stress, nutrition, morphology/

condition, calf production and herd demographics, and

more. Dr. Jutha is a veterinarian and Master of Science

student now at the University of Guelph. She has been

working on this project in Tahltan Territory for the

past two years.

The major objectives of our study are to:

∙ Determine current status and trends of caribou health using both guide & outfitter-based health sampling and local ecological knowledge.

∙ Develop a framework for a sustainable and locally-based wildlife health surveillance program in this region that can be applied to other areas.

COMPLETED TO DATE:

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE INTERVIEWS

16 (Individual, 2018)

7 (Group, to be completed Fall 2019)

Total = 23

SAMPLE KITS SUBMITTED

23 (2016)

18 (2017)

22 (2018)

Total = 63

20

Yukon Territory Northwest Territories

Alaska

AtlinPONATH, Brandon

WEIGELT, Nicholas NIEMEYER, Colin

SCHMIDT, Aimee

PETERSON, James

DAY, Rudy

ROE, Dustin

DANIELSON, Michael

OESTREICH, Devlin

VINCE, Luke

BLACK, Shane

CREYKE, Jerry

GUTFRUCHT, Heidi

WILLIAMS, Gregory

ORIGONIA, Maria

COLLINGWOOD, RaymondSOLOMONSON, Richard

MILLER, Scott

LEUENBERGER, Matthew YOUNG, MichaelFLEMING, Ronald

HODSON, Logan

LARSON, Clinton

HILL, Thomas

MILLIGAN, Robert

TA H LTA N G U I D E & O U T F I T T E R S A S S O C I AT I O N P R O J E C T S U P DAT E

As a first step, unique, standardized sample kits were

developed and distributed to the TGOA since 2016 for

collection of biological samples and data on harvested

caribou bulls in Regions 6 and 7. Analyses of these

and future samples give valuable information on

diseases, parasites, contaminants analysis, stress,

body condition, age and size. Over the summer and

fall of 2018, Dr. Jutha conducted interviews with past

and currently practicing guides and outfitters to record

their observations on herd and individual animal

health, status, and trends. These interviews targeted

information such as: regions important for caribou,

herd demographics, herd movements and trends,

observations of disease and body condition, activities of

other species in the area, and habitat.

This fall 2019, group feedback sessions with participants

and other ‘knowledge experts’ are being held to further

strengthen our understanding of the knowledge

documented. As it provides a forum for valuable

knowledge to be shared and acknowledged, this model

of collecting scientific and local knowledge is exciting for

TAHLTAN TERRITORY

GUIDE OU TFIT TER ARE AS

L E G E N D

everyone involved. The interviews and group feedback

help fill knowledge gaps about northern mountain

caribou and show how a community-based health

surveillance program would be successful in this region.

With continued support from international conservation

organizations such as Wild Sheep Foundation,

Washington State Wild Sheep Foundation, Shikar

Foundation and Safari Club International, TGOA

will continue to contribute to proactive wildlife and

habitat management, which in turn will contribute to

abundant wildlife populations for generations within

Tahltan Territory.

GUIDE OUTFITTERS MAP IN THE TAHLTAN NATION

For further information, please contact:

Graduate student: Naima Jutha, [email protected]

Graduate program supervisor: Susan Kutz, [email protected]

BC Wildlife Veterinarian: Helen Schwantje, [email protected]

Local contact: Billy Oestreich, [email protected]


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Atlin#

TAHLTAN TERRITORY

GUIDE OU TFIT TER ARE AS

L E G E N D

TAHLTAN NATION TR APLINE MAP

22

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TA H LTA N N AT I O N T R A P L I N E M A P


23

The 3NBC-CSF is a 3-year pilot program funded through

BC’s Indigenous Funding Envelope. It started in 2018

and is in its second year of operations. The 3NBC-CSF is

focused on three program areas:

∙ Guardians Programs;

∙ Specific Projects (such as wildlife inventories);

∙ Governance and Capacity (such as co-management research, or new wildlife management decision-making approaches).

The 3NBC-CSF has a 3 Nations Co-Lead – Feddie Louie,

and a BC Co-Lead – Linda Robertson, who are both

responsible for directing delivery of this initiative as per

the mandate from their respective leadership.

3 Nations and British Columbia Collaborative Stewardship Forum Update

Feddie Louie + Linda RobertsonCo-leads for CSF

Since 2018, the 3NBC–CSF partnership has:

1. Established the governance structures required to effectively administer 3NBC-CSF and work toward the goal of shared management of wildlife and other land and resources across the traditional territories of the 3 Nations;

2. Supported an expanded role of the 3 Nations Guardians programs including expanded hunting and land use monitoring and establishment of study areas, more seasonal Guardians employed, and the purchase of necessary equipment and tools;

3. Incorporated working groups and community direction for priority setting;

4. Addressed information gaps through the support of ongoing joint programs such as the Cassiar Stone’s Sheep Program, Carcross Caribou Herd Monitoring, Atlin Caribou Herd Monitoring and the Wildlife Health Program throughout the 3 Nations territories; and

5. Initiated projects aimed at understanding the successes and challenges of active co-management agreements with Indigenous Nations and governments.

The 2019-2020 year will consist of finalizing the

enabling agreement, implementation of the 3NBC-CSF

program by the Governance Team and Technical

Working Group, delivery of the annual workplan, and

the continued community and leadership engagement

to provide direction to 3NBC-CSF. In addition, informing

stakeholders of the program is planned in 2019-20.

Activities occurring in the Tahltan Nation and funded through this program in 2019-20 include:

1. Community engagement and direction for caribou herd priorities for inventories and management actions;

2. Tahltan Guardians Program funding which includes the continued monitoring of licensed hunters and land use activities;

3. Tseneglode Woodland Caribou Herd monitoring;

4. Development of moose population action plans through community and Guardians engagement;

5. Early winter Klappan moose composition inventory;

6. Morel mushroom harvesting management and monitoring;

7. Stikine River Canyon mountain goat inventories; and

8. Joint monitoring patrols by Guardians and Conservation Officer Service.

The 3 Nations and British Columbia Collaborative Stewardship

Forum (“3NBC-CSF”) is an initiative by which the Kaska, Tahltan

and Taku River Tlingit Nations have agreed with the Province

to increase collaboration on wildlife management and other

land and resource values toward a shared management model

across the traditional territories of the 3 Nations in BC.

The 3NBC-CSF is governed by a Governance Team

composed of the Co-Chairs from each Nation’s

Government-to-Government Agreement with BC,

3NBC-CSF Co-Leads, and Technical Working Group

representatives. The Governance Team provides

direction on the funding priorities, policies, and

governance of the 3NBC-CSF.

The Technical Working Group is composed of

representatives from each Nation’s Guardians

program and Wildlife/Lands program with technical

representatives from BC. It develops and manages the

annual workplan approved by the Governance Team.

It is responsible for the project management and

working with the specific project and the Guardians

program leads on the delivery of programs/projects.

24

3 N B C – C S F U P DAT E / M E S S AG E F R O M T H E P R OV I N C E O F B R I T I S H C O L U M B I A

Message from the Province of British Columbia

Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural

Development [FLNRO] Minister Doug Donaldson was challenged

by Premier Horgan to “improve wildlife management and habitat

conservation… and to advance UNDRIP and the TRC Calls to Action”

in his 2017 mandate letter from Premier Horgan.

30 Indigenous participants from all across the Province who are

knowledgeable about wildlife and natural resource management.

Participants range from elected Chiefs and councilors, hereditary

chiefs, treaty directors and wildlife biologists and members from

both historic and modern treaty and non-treaty nations. The

Forum is intended to bring technical, not political, perspectives

and members are not asked to represent any other First Nation, or

even their own. The work of the Forum is not consultation and our

“co-produced” products are intended to inform future consultation

with all First Nations in British Columbia.

The Forum is co-chaired by Ron Frank of the Ka:’yu:’k’t’h/

Che:k’tles7et’h’ First Nations and Kate Hewitt from the Northern

Secwepemc Tribal Council with policy and financial support from

FLNRO and a facilitator from the Fraser Basin Council. Since we

first met in 2018, the Forum has co-drafted a policy paper with five

recommended changes to the Wildlife Act, to address issues raised

by First Nations. The Wildlife Act has not been changed since 1966

to address Indigenous issues. We presented the paper to Minister

Donaldson in July, who enthusiastically received the document.

President Chad Day from TCG was in attendance. Representatives

from the 3 Nations group have been involved in the work of the

Forum since the beginning. The Forum continues to work with

FLNRO to review and draft materials with the goal of “co-drafting”

the Province’s new wildlife and habitat strategy which we hope to

release in the fall of 2019. We will then begin formal consultation

with First Nations communities around the Province.

FLNRO staff embraced this challenge and have

undertaken an unprecedented conversation with

British Columbians to better understand their

views on how to address the challenges we face

with climate change, declining wildlife populations,

funding, habitat loss and other challenges.

A central part of the Province’s approach to developing a new wildlife

and habitat strategy for British Columbia has been finding innovative

new ways to engage with Indigenous communities on this important

initiative. Starting in the spring of 2018, we held 28 sessions with

Indigenous communities and governments all across the Province.

We learned of issues with information sharing, capacity building,

enforcement, co-management, communication, and respect as

governments, not stakeholders. We shared a desire for a new vision on

how the government of British Columbia and Indigenous communities

work together on wildlife and habitat management issues.

In December 2018, the first meeting of what is called the First

Nations-B.C. Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat Conservation Forum (“the

Forum”) met in Vancouver. The Forum is comprised of approximately

Chris HamiltonProject Director, FLNRO, Improving Wildlife and Habitat Conservation Initiative

Ron FrankMaa-nulth Treaty Society and Forum Co-Chair

Kate HewittNorthern Secwepemc Tribal Council and Forum Co-Chair

Below: Forum members meeting Minister Donaldson.


25

Message from the BC Wildlife Federation

We advocate for anglers, hunters, outdoor recreationalists,

firearms owners and recreational shooters. We strive to

ensure the sound, long-term management of BC’s fish,

wildlife, and outdoor recreational resources in the best

interest of present and future generations.

The BCWF shares many of the same concerns as the

Tahltan Nation. We are concerned about the declines in

fish and wildlife populations, habitat destruction and

degradation and that our conservation efforts aren’t

working. These are issues not only in Tahltan Territory but

across the whole province. When people recognize that

something isn't working it naturally follows that we must

change what we are doing, in order to get better results.

One aspect of change is to work with other groups that

share similar concerns. The BCWF supports a collaborative

approach to fish, wildlife and habitat management based in

science and traditional knowledge.

Rob ChipmanDirector, BC Wildlife Federation

The British Columbia Wildlife Federation (BCWF) is British

Columbia’s leading conservation organization. We are made

up of volunteers from across the province who aim to protect,

enhance and promote the wise use of our environment on

behalf of all British Columbians.

Participation in the wildlife round table process has

been particularly valuable to the BCWF, and we hope to

build on our history of working together with the Tahltan

Nation. Strong relationships promote strong and lasting

solutions. We greatly appreciate the collaborative and

progressive thinking of Tahltan leadership and the

opportunity to strengthen and grow our relationship.

We recognize the trend emerging across

the country of reconciling traditional

indigenous knowledge with scientific

wildlife management. We value the

opportunity to work with the Tahltan

leadership to achieve properly funded,

active, informed and effective wild

landscape management policies.

The decades-old government policy of

dividing those who should be working

together is coming to an end.

26

M E S S AG E F R O M T H E B C W I L D L I F E F E D E R AT I O N

On a more personal note, I was fortunate enough to

spend some time in Tahltan Territory this August. We

were lucky enough to see several caribou as well as lots

of sheep. I also saw, firsthand, some of the challenges

faced by the Tahltan Nation in this very special part of

the province. In some ways, this absolutely stunning

area has had a relatively low man-made impact,

compared to other parts of the province. At the same

time, there is still unmitigated damage from resource

extraction and continuing pressures on wildlife

populations. I particularly enjoyed meeting and speaking

at length with the Tahltan Central Government (TCG)

Wildlife Director, Lance Nagwan, and three Guardians.

The experience was very positive and informative and

I was especially impressed by what Lance told me

about Tahltan management plans, as well as traditional

predator management practices and some new and

innovative practices that have been implemented.

It seems clear that by working together

the BCWF, TCG and Tahltan Guide Outfitting

Association (TGOA) will be able to spread

our common message and lobby our

provincial and federal politicians to do

what is right.

The BC Wildlife Federation is committed to work with

the Tahltan Nation, the TGOA and government over the

long-term, focusing on what’s important: conserving,

managing and restoring wildlife populations.


27

Tahltan have traditionally managed these herds through

our knowledge and understanding of the historic

seasonal ranges, movement periods and corridors,

and changes in range use over time. However, Tahltan

citizens are expressing concern over the apparent

changes to seasonal range; movements by caribou

herds over the last 10 years are not consistent with

traditional knowledge.

Tseneglode Woodland Caribou Project Update

Northern Mountain Population (NMP) Woodland Caribou are

currently designated as “Special Concern” under the federal

Species At Risk Act. In the Tahltan Nation, there are 7 herds

of this population status and all are important to the Nation

for traditional uses and sustenance needs.

Lance NagwanWildlife Director

Norm MacLeanTHREAT Project Manager

Tahltan citizens have observed climate change

impacts on the Territory for years and are starting

to express concerns regarding how these changes

will affect the wildlife, traditional uses and

sustenance harvesting.

Caribou are one of the most important food sources

for the Tahltan Nation after moose and salmon. Among

the different caribou herds in the Tahltan Nation, the

Tseneglode Herd is one of the most important and

utilized. We have limited scientific population data of

the Tseneglode Herd but strong traditional and historic

knowledge and a good knowledge of the encroachment

of human disturbance in the herd’s seasonal ranges. This

herd is especially culturally important to Tahltan and is

part of the local breadbasket for Tahltan living in the area.

TCG acquired funds in 2018 for the Guardians to collect

information on the movements, seasonal range use, and

population of the herd; engage with the communities,

Elders, and Youth on caribou and climate changes both

historic and current; and collaboratively develop climate

change and caribou management strategies.

28

T S E N E G L O D E W O O D L A N D CA R I B O U P R O J E C T U P DAT E

In April of this year, ten caribou were

captured, collared, and body condition

measured by the Guardians (Clements

Brace), Government of British Columbia (Bill

Jex), and a wildlife veterinarian (Dr. Caeley

Thacker). Net gunner Fraser McDonald

helped as well, with Bill Oestreich as the

helicopter pilot. TCG’s Communication

Department (Adam Amir, Communications

Coordinator) produced a video about the

capture as well. It is available on the Tahltan

Central Government website.

Since April, eight of the ten collared caribou

are still active (Map 1) with one collar

dropping off the caribou, and the other collar

appears to no longer be functioning. The

collared caribou are mostly moving within

the Gnat Pass/Dome Mountain areas south

and east of Dease Lake.

Community engagement is being planned in

October and November to discuss caribou

management and climate change. In addition,

there is planning to deploy additional collars in

late winter of 2020 and conduct a population

survey in the fall of 2021. These activities, as

well as other related caribou management

plans, will be discussed at community

meetings this fall and early winter.

DEASE LAKE

Tuya River

Tanzilla R

iver

McB

ride

River

Stikine River

Cry Lake

34966

34967

T S E N E G L O D E C A R I B O U M O V E M E N T SA P R I L T O S E P 2 0 1 9

34965

3496 4

34963

34962

34961

34960

34959

34958

map 1. Tseneglode woodland caribou movements from April to September 2019

Featured:

Clements Brace, Wildlife Guardian

Bill Jex, Provincial Wildlife Biologist

Dr. Caeley Thacker, Wildlife Veterinarian

Bill Oestreich, Outfitter and former Wildlife Director

William Oestreich, Youth

Fraser MacDonald


29

It is a working group which supports the Tahltan BC

G2G Forum and its main roles are:

∙ Provide shared recommendations to the G2G Forum on fish and wildlife matters

∙ Respond to the G2G Forum direction and queries

∙ Respond to wildlife initiatives from the Province and/or Tahltan

∙ Complete an annual workplan and priorities and submit it to the G2G Forum for approval

∙ Provide regular updates to the G2G Forum

∙ Respond to fish and wildlife specific Shared Engagement Records to BC

Tahltan BC G2G Fish and Wildlife Working Group (FWWG)

The Fish and Wildlife Working Group (FWWG) is an outcome

of the Shared Decision-Making Agreement between the

Tahltan Central Government (TCG) and the Province of

British Columbia. It is composed of BC representatives from

the Skeena Region, and Tahltan representatives from TCG,

Tahltan Fisheries, Tahltan Band, and Iskut Band.

Norm MacLeanTHREAT Project Manager

Annual workplans are completed each spring and

provided to the Co-Chairs of the G2G Forum. Workplans

provide the priorities and interests to work towards

completion each fiscal year.

The key areas of interest are:

∙ Information Sharing: more on how to share information than commitments to share data

∙ Linkages to other initiatives such as 3Nations and TGOA projects

∙ Guardians Program

∙ Tahltan Wildlife Policy

∙ Predator Management

∙ Inventories and hunting regulations to support harvest management

∙ Fisheries including Steelhead Working Group on the Iskut River

∙ Habitat Management and Protection

∙ Support for cultural activities – trapping promotion and culture camps

∙ Moose Management Planning – Klappan, Spatsizi, Lower Stikine, and Liard Basin are priorities for population specific plans

The FWWG is currently reviewing and

recommending management direction

for Steelhead in and around AltaGas’s

Northwest Hydroelectric Facilities on the

Iskut River. Previously, Steelhead have

been documented in the lower reaches

of the project footprint. The FWWG has

been asked to provide management

recommendations to the G2G Forum,

TCG, BC, and AltaGas.

30

TA H LTA N B C G 2 G F I S H A N D W I L D L I F E W O R K I N G G R O U P ( F W W G )

The FWWG is involved in the provincial wildlife hunting

regulation review cycle. Every two years, the FWWG

reviews proposals by Tahltan, BC, stakeholders, or

other Nations. The FWWG provides recommendations

to each government. The FWWG was involved with

Tahltan, BC, and the Northern Wildlife Roundtable

on the development of the new moose hunting

regulations in 2018, which includes the Klappan

Limited Entry Hunting and Moose Antler Restrictions

in areas near communities. The FWWG is completing

recommendations on proposals submitted this

year for possible implementation for the 2020-2022

regulation cycle. Some of the proposals under review

this cycle include the closure of caribou hunting on

Mount Edziza, closure of hunting around Tahltan Lakes,

and modifications to the Moose Antler Restriction

management areas. Decisions will not be made until

January 2020. Any changes to the wildlife hunting

regulations will be for 2020-2022.

For the Klappan, the FWWG was involved in the

review and recommendations supporting the 2018

Limited Entry Hunting changes to the moose hunting

regulations. As part of the changes, in 2018 the

Klappan Management Board established the moose

management direction and information requirements,

to be completed by 2022. To assist in the moose

information collection for the Klappan, the FWWG

incorporated an early winter moose survey for the

Klappan this year in its annual workplan and is

supporting the work being done by TCG through CSF

(Collaborative Stewardship Framework) funds. A repeat

of the 2016 population survey is planned in the next

two winters for the Klappan. Also, TCG and BC worked

through a process by which wildlife and land use

referrals will be reviewed by the G2G Forum/FWWG

and then provided to the Klappan Management Board

for a decision.

Finally, the FWWG is involved in other Tahltan and

3 Nations initiatives such as 3NBC – CSF with many

of the technical representatives involved in both.

Some of the proposals under review this cycle include the closure of caribou hunting on Mount Edziza, closure of hunting around Tahltan Lakes, and modifications to the Moose Antler Restriction management areas. Decisions will not be made until January 2020. Any changes to the wildlife hunting regulations will be for 2020-2022.”


31

Map F51 - Bob Quinn

Map F51 - Willow Creek

Map F50 - Gnat Pass

Map F50 - Dease Lake

Map F50 - Liard River

Map F50 - Boya Lake

Sources: Esri, HERE, Garmin, Intermap, increment P Corp., GEBCO, USGS, FAO, NPS, NRCAN,GeoBase, IGN, Kadaster NL, Ordnance Survey, Esri Japan, METI, Esri China (Hong Kong), swisstopo, ©OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS User Community

.

0 50

Kilometres

Hunting Regulations

No regulation changes since last year.

Signage updates:

∙ One Moose Regulation sign placed on Willow Ridge Road pullout.

∙ One Moose Regulation sign put up on Burrage Airport pullout.

∙ One Moose Regulation Sign put up at the Stikine River.

∙ One Moose Regulation sign put up at Auguschidle Creek on Telegraph Road.

∙ One Moose Regulation sign placed Ningunsaw River.

∙ One Moose Regulation sign put up Durham Creek.

∙ One Reduce Cow Harvest sign put up on Klappan Road Entrance.

map f50-51 – overview. Moose antler restriction areas: Iskut, Dease, Liard

32

Teleg

raph Road

Hwy 37

Stikine R iver

Latham Creek

Height of Land

Map Line

Unn

amed

Creek

He ight of Land

Hlu

ey

Creek

TanzillaRiver

AuguschidleCreek

6-246-24

6-23

6-22

6-196-21

6-20


.

0 10

Kilometres

Map F50 - Gnat Pass

6-21

top left: map f50 – gnat pass. Moose antler restriction area

NingunsawRiver

Creek

Hw

y 37

Isku

t Rive

r

Isku

t Riv

er

6-21

6-20

6-17

6-17


.

0 5

Kilometres

Map F51 - Bob Quinn

Durham

top right: map f51 – bob quinn. Moose antler restriction area

HeightofLand

1100mElevation

Unnamed Creek

Iskut River

9V 4235106356200

9V 4247856356245

Hwy

37

Kina

skan

Prov

incia

lPa

rkBd

y

Mapped Line

Edzi

zaPr

ovin

cial

Park

Bdy

KakiddiLake

6-21

6-20


.

0 5

Kilometres

Map F51 - Willow Creek

left: map f51 – willow creek. Moose antler restriction area

Central Government

W I L D L I F E N E W S L E T T E R 2019

/tahltangovernment

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Nation news, events, and job postings.

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