There will be an increased presence of Tahltan guardians and B.C. conservation officers within Tahltan Territory this year, as the Province of British Columbia and the Tahltan Central Government work together toward co-operative wildlife stewardship and continue their shared commitments to further reconciliation.

These joint efforts are to respect and support the Tahltan Nation’s ongoing work to improve wildlife populations, food security and community safety, while ensuring hunting access for licensed hunters visiting Tahltan Territory this hunting season.

“Wildlife and wildlife management is critically important to the Tahltan way of life,” said Katrine Conroy, Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development. “The B.C. and Tahltan governments are committed to working together on wildlife management for the benefit of the Tahltan and all British Columbians. This is part of the reconciliation path that we all walk together in support of prosperity for future generations.”

The Tahltan guardians will be working with B.C. conservation officers to co-ordinate efforts and conduct joint patrols throughout the hunting season. The Tahltan Central Government and the Province of British Columbia are collaborating on this work to ensure that Tahltan and licensed hunters can enjoy access to sustainable hunting opportunities in the region.

“From birth, Tahltans are taught of their responsibility to steward our land,” said Chad Day, President of the Tahltan Central Government. “The Tahltan Central Government will continue working with the province to improve wildlife management in Tahltan Territory grounded in the principles of respect and recognition of Tahltan rights and title. The Tahltan Nation is committed to building a world-class wildlife management regime to help ensure there are plentiful wildlife populations that are properly managed using Tahltan knowledge and modern-day science. I am proud of our accomplishments and excited for what the future holds as we work to evolve and strengthen our relationship with the Province of British Columbia.”

Safety within the Tahltan Territory is of high concern going into the 2021 hunting season. After a contentious hunting season last year, both governments hope that a unified approach, which is respectful of Tahltan traditional and cultural practices on the land, will support a better experience for all hunters in the region, including visitors and Tahltan members as they exercise their constitutionally protected Aboriginal hunting rights.

About the Tahltan Nation:

The Tahltan Central Government (TCG) is the administrative governing body of the Tahltan Nation. The Iskut Band and the Tahltan Band continue to govern Tahltan interests with respect to the Indian Act in the communities of Iskut, Dease Lake and Telegraph Creek.

The TCG is the representative government of the Tahltan Nation with respect to the inherent and collective Aboriginal title and rights shared by all Tahltan people. The Tahltan Nation’s Territory spans 95,933 square kilometres of northwest British Columbia, the equivalent of 11% of the province.

Learn More:

Provincial hunting regulations and restrictions: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/sports-culture/recreation/fishing-hunting/hunting  

Tahltan Central Government: https://tahltan.org/