Letter to nova scotia chiefs Re: Hunting Moose in New Brunswick

October 3, 2024

VIA EMAIL

To: All Nova Scotia Chiefs

From: Chiefs of Mi’gmawe’l Tplu’taqnn Inc. (MTI)

Re: Hunting Moose in New Brunswick

Dear Chiefs:

We are aware that in July, the Nova Scotia government has suspended the licensed Cape Breton moose hunt for three years because of a significant drop in the population. We also know that for conservation purposes you have put a moratorium on rights-based moose harvesting until population numbers are sustainable. With the moratorium in place, we are receiving a significant number of letters from individuals in your respective communities looking to hunt moose in New Brunswick.

You may have heard that some of the Mi’gmaq chiefs in New Brunswick have responded to your members and have denied them permission to come into the territory to hunt. The rationale is one we hope you will appreciate. We are dealing with our own conservation issues, particularly in the Signigtewa’gi District. Currently, we do not have the conservation measures in place to allow an unknown number of hunters to come into New Brunswick and to take an unknown number of moose. This decision was not taken lightly and was based on conservation and sustainability considerations in New Brunswick. We must ensure the protection of the moose for future generations. We trust you understand.

You may want to share this information with any of your community members who will be traveling to New Brunswick or have inquired with you about hunting moose in New Brunswick.

We know this is not ideal and we know the moratorium will be in place for some time. MTI will continue to try and work with the provincial government on a co-management process, so that moose are managed in a responsible manner. For now, perhaps we could ask officials from KMK and MTI to meet and discuss this further. Staff can contact Steve Ginnish at steve@migmawel.org.

Wela’lioq

Chief George Ginnish

Co-Chair, MTI

Chief Rebecca Knockwood

Co-Chair, MTI

Cc: MTI Chiefs

Steve Ginnish

Dean Vicaire

Tracy Cloud

Derek Simon

Roy Stewart

Janice Maloney, KMKNO