The decrease in the moose population has major consequences in Jamésie. Sport hunting will be prohibited in part of this region of Nord-du-Québec this fall, raising fears for social peace. The Cree are concerned about the impact of this decline on the survival of their traditional way of life. Candidates in the provincial elections promise to act.
The love of hunting is marked even in the skin of Stéphane Tremblay and his spouse, Laurie Fortin. Two deer heads are tattooed in the shape of a heart on the forearms of the Chibougamois. “The smaller heads inside represent my children,” says Stéphane, wearing a Chassomaniak t-shirt.
Just like his grandfather and his father before him, Mr. Tremblay transmitted his passion to his children, who decorate their own room with moose antlers.
In addition to working as a nurse, the president of the Chibougamau Hunters and Fishermen’s Association defends the interests of hundreds of people who share his enthusiasm. However, this fall, the atmosphere is gloomy. While moose hunting normally begins in mid-September, regulars in Zone 17, which spans hundreds of square kilometres, will simply not be allowed to take any shots there. Unless you are part of the Cree First Nation.
An aerial inventory carried out in the winter of 2021 by the Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs du Québec, in collaboration with the Cree Nation Government, counted 1,036 moose in the area, a decrease of 35% compared to to 2009. As the survival of the herd requires that the number of animals killed does not exceed 10% of its population, the Joint Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Committee has limited the number of catches to 104 per year. However, the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement guarantees the Crees a harvest of 158 moose in this area, subject to the principle of resource conservation. As the latter must already reduce their own catches, there are none left for sport hunters.
Mr. Tremblay says he participated in good discussions between Cree representatives and local elected officials to try to find a compromise. “The great chief of the Cree nation had asked that, if we were given animals, it would be just for the hunters who live in Jamésie. Twenty, that could have been acceptable, ”says the hunter. However, it was not possible to obtain the agreement of all the Cree communities concerned.
Disappointment and sometimes even frustration are palpable among sport hunters — there were about 800 last year — who have to find land in another area this year. Many of them have camps, small cabins allowed on public lands.
“If it doesn’t reopen in the next few years, my camp won’t be worth anything. For me, it’s like taking $35,000 and burning it,” laments David Mailloux, neighbor of Mr. Tremblay.
For Frédérick Manning, it would be unthinkable to deprive himself of hunting, which allows him to disconnect completely and fill his freezer with his favorite meat. “It makes me minced meat, filet mignon, flank steak, ribs enthusiastically reports the Ford dealer in Chibougamau, who has been hunting in this area for 10 years.
Tensions in sight
Many hunters and elected officials fear possible conflicts between non-indigenous hunters, who will compete for space in other areas. “I’ve been in the same place for nine years. If someone comes to get in my way, they may say swear words to each other,” warns Mr. Tremblay.
Many hunters also feel unfair to the Crees.
“I would have agreed that the hunt should be closed for everyone for three years. We bring up the herd and then we start to regulate, ”comments Mr. Mailloux, who emphasizes that foreigners do not already have the right to kill females. “It’s not the forty males that we kill each year that will change the situation. »
Mr. Tremblay, Mr. Manning and Mr. Mailloux say they observe abuse by some Cree hunters. “Two years ago, a group in the middle of winter killed eight in my area. They call it subsistence hunting, but it’s putting your head in the sand. It’s carnage,” Manning said.
They also say they see a rise in racism against Indigenous people. “I’ve heard hunters say that if they no longer have the right to hunt, some Aboriginal camps will burn down,” says Mr. Tremblay.
The Mayor of Chibougamau, Manon Cyr, is concerned. She notes that this issue is visceral for many of her fellow citizens. “I’ve talked about moose hunting to normally sensible people, and it’s as if I took away two arms and two legs from them,” she says.
Mme Cyr says he hopes the Cree Nation will implement a moose management plan to curb this decline.
A way of life at stake
According to the Grand Chief of the Grand Council of the Crees, Mandy Gull-Masty, several factors are influencing the decline of moose, in particular the deterioration of their natural habitat.
“There is a lot of forestry activity in the area, and it has opened up paths for several predators, such as wolves, which enter this area and eat the calves,” notes Ms.me Gull-Masty.
Members of his nation are worried not only about the beasts in Area 17, but also adjacent areas. Mme Gull-Masty wants the Quebec government to collaborate on the development of a forest management plan better suited to moose.
“We also see impacts on moose in the territories of other nations that surround the Crees. We expect solutions from Quebec, because it is its responsibility, ”says the great leader.
“My prediction is that the moose will disappear if forestry does not change its ways,” testifies for his part the tallyman of Waswanipi Paul Dixon, who would like a moratorium on logging.
The 65-year-old says he grew up in the forest and his parents were born there and met there. He worries about several animal species and about his nation’s traditional way of life.
For the Cree communities, reducing the catch to 104 is already a big sacrifice. “It’s our traditional diet. It’s not just an activity. It’s in our culture, every year, we go into the woods with the family, ”explains the great chef.
The catches are controlled by a traditional system managed by master trappers, which has existed for more than a hundred years, specifies the great chief.
“Hunting has never been a problem in the last millennia. It’s only since then that we’ve shared space with non-natives,” said Mr. Dixon, once again blaming industrial development, as well as climate change.
Mme Gull-Masty intends to return to the discussion table after the provincial election to find common ground with the Jamésiens for years to come.
Politicians promise to act
The candidates of the Coalition avenir Québec (CAQ), Québec solidaire (QS) and the Parti québécois (PQ) in the riding of Ungava all intend to support and facilitate dialogue on this subject.
“My role is to be useful in the talks,” said incumbent MP and CAQ candidate Denis Lamothe.
Maïtée Labrecque-Saganash, the QS candidate, also proposes “to invest in research to monitor moose populations”, to carry out “better administration of the territory for the health of herds” and to “recognize the status of expert to Cree elders who are tallymen”.
“We have to adapt our hunting rules. We must take action to promote the habitat of moose, ”said PQ candidate Christine Moore, who says she understands, as a hunter herself, the disappointment of the Jamesians.
The Liberal Party of Quebec and the Conservative Party of Quebec did not respond to questions from the To have to.