Thank you, Mr. Speaker,

WHEREAS caribou have been a source of food and a means of survival for aboriginal people of the NWT since time immemorial;

AND WHEREAS caribou herds migrate across jurisdictions and across international boundaries;

AND WHEREAS the Government of the Northwest Territories has scientific studies that show a decline in caribou herds and deem it an emergency measure under the conservation process to ban all hunting of the Bathurst caribou herd within a specified geographical area;

AND WHEREAS Dene Nation Resolutions #10/11-003 and #09/010-014 propose a means by which all parties can get back on track and be respectful of aboriginal culture and all Northerners by recognizing:

“the Dene will enter discussions and develop a long-term plan with the GNWT on a government-to-government basis to recognize both the inherent rights of the Dene to hunt and their inherent authority to design and implement solutions that will protect, preserve and ensure the survival of caribou for future generations.”;

AND WHEREAS aboriginal people have deemed the GNWT’s recent actions in this regard to be an infringement on their aboriginal rights and treaty rights to hunt for survival and ceremonial purposes;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Nahendeh, that the Government of the NWT set a place and date to have an emergency meeting with the aboriginal people of the NWT to consider their consultative process and come to an agreement regarding the caribou;

AND FURTHER, that the Government of the NWT look at alternative measures to resolve the issue.