The ?Esdilagh First Nation has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the B.C. Conservation Officer Service (COS), to promote the sustainability of wildlife within its traditional territory.

The MOU strives to foster understanding of ?Esdilagh First Nation's customs, traditions, and cultural and spiritual practices, as well as promote the management, protection and stewardship of moose in its traditional territory. A signing ceremony took place in ?Esdilagh on Friday, June 15, 2018.

“The B.C. Conservation Officer Service is pleased to work with the ?Esdilagh First Nation around enforcement and measures to minimize human-wildlife conflicts within its traditional territory,” said Andy MacKay, COS sergeant and provincial co-ordinator, restorative justice and First Nations. “This partnership will help strengthen the stewardship of wildlife and resources within ?Esdilagh First Nation territory.”

Collaboration and communication between the COS and the ?Esdilagh First Nation, on enforcement within its traditional territory, is another key component of the MOU. Notably, this includes the COS enforcing ?Esdilagh communal restrictions, which prohibits the harvesting of cow moose for ?Esdilagh First Nation membership in its traditional territory.

“The highest priority for the people of ?Esdilagh is moose preservation and increasing our moose population — that is our ultimate goal,” said ?Esdilagh Chief Roy Stump. “Overall, we want a sustainable wildlife population that everyone can benefit from.”

The MOU also encourages the promotion of proactive measures to lessen potential human-wildlife conflicts. This may include education and awareness activities, developing wildlife hazard assessments and management plans, and the installation of wildlife-resistant waste containers and other waste management systems.

Learn More:

To learn more about the ?Esdilagh First Nation, visit: http://www.esdilagh.com/

To learn more about the B.C. Conservation Officer Service, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/natural-resource-stewardship/natural-resource-law-enforcement/conservation-officer-service