Peary caribou are listed as Endangered under the Species at Risk Act (SARA). The Act requires the Minister of the Environment to prepare a recovery strategy for the species and to engage jurisdictions, Aboriginal Peoples, and stakeholders through meaningful consultations. SARA recognizes the importance of consultation and requires that recovery strategies be prepared in cooperation with Aboriginal organizations directly affected by the recovery strategy.
The HTOs and the community members of the nine communities in or near the Peary caribou range possess information integral to successful discussions with Inuvialuit and Inuit in the range of Peary caribou in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. The nine HTOs are:
- Ekaluktutiak Hunters and Trappers Association (Cambridge Bay, NU)
- Gjoa Haven Hunters and Trappers Association (Gjoa Haven, NU)
- Iviq Hunters and Trappers Organization (Grise Fiord, NU)
- Kurairojuark Hunters and Trappers Association (Kugaaruk, NU)
- Olohaktomiut Hunters and Trappers Committee (Ulukhaktok, NT)
- Paulatuk Hunters and Trappers Committee (Paulatuk, NU)
- Resolute Bay Hunters and Trappers Organization (Resolute Bay, NU)
- Sachs Harbour Hunters and Trappers Committee (Sachs Harbour, NT)
- Spence Bay Hunters and Trappers Association (Taloyoak, NU)
Representatives from the Wildlife Management Advisory Council – NWT (WMAC-NWT) also possess important information for this process, and may be included in meetings.
This contract is for assisting Environment Canada representatives with unique logistics associated with working in small, remote communities in the development of and consultations on the proposed recovery strategy for Peary caribou. Environment Canada plans to hold consultations to facilitate the development of the national recovery strategy for Peary caribou. Approved attendees from each of the nine HTOs plus WMAC-NWT will meet periodically with government representatives by teleconference and WebEx to discuss aspects of the recovery strategy and may meet in person in Yellowknife. Government representatives may travel to some or all of the nine communities to consult with the HTO and community members.
The face-to-face meeting in Yellowknife is expected to occur during November 2014. The community consultation meetings are expected to occur between December 2014 and December 2017. Note that the numbers of meetings presented are maximums. It is possible for there to be only one, or even no, meetings depending on various factors including but not limited to participant availability, budgets, government meeting/event/travel approval processes.
