Uclulet FN removes chief and bans him from hunting privileges

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ratherbefishin

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Looks like the FN are starting to police their own ranks-they removed their chief from office and took away his hunting privileges for poaching elk.This is positive news for the hunting community who have long decried abuse of privilege by FN people.Elk are slowly coming back on Vancouver Island with strict limited entry hunting management. Poaching is a serious concern. FN have an elk allocation which is done on a draw basis by members and by this action they are taking game management seriously.With privilege comes responsability.I know one FN member who explained the rules to me,they put in for a draw much like LEH and they have to take portion of the kill and give it to the elders for distribution ,which is their tradition.

Poaching and selling game automatically bars them from participating and the action sends a message to their own people they are serious.Of course the other side of poaching is the buyers....people looking for cheap meat or salmon...
Good on them....
 
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I'll save people the effort.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/briti...moved-by-community-for-elk-poaching-1.3526406


Elders in the Ucluelet First Nation have removed their hereditary chief, Wilson Jack, from his legislature seat in the community after he was sentenced in provincial court for poaching elk out of season earlier this year.
Les Doiron, president of the Ucluelet First Nation, says the sanctions are precedent setting for hereditary chiefs and demonstrates that the community takes hunting violations seriously.
"For the people that thought that a hereditary chief got off lightly, I think this goes to show that our people didn't take it lightly,"
The removal comes with several conditions, according to a letter sent to Jack from Les Doiron.

  • Jack is no longer allowed to represent the Ucluelet First Nation at any level.
  • His harvesting rights have been suspended.
  • He must host a dinner to apologize to the community.
  • He cannot serve his community hours, which are part of his sentence, in Ucluelet First Nations territory.
Doiron says Jack has to answer to his own people.
"As the chief goes, everyone else goes. He is supposed to be leading by example."
Jack is currently serving two years probation from his provincial court sentence.
[h=2]Elk poaching mystery[/h]In 2013, some Vancouver Island First Nations offered a $25,000 reward for poachers who were targeting a herd of elk that was moved to the area several years prior, with the aim of creating a sustainable population.
At least eight animals were killed in the Nuu-chah-nulth traditional territory, around Port Alberni and Barkley Sound in 2013 and 2012. The bodies of the animals were abandoned or partially harvested.
Officials from the Huu-ay-aht Nation told CBC in 2013 they are completely opposed to the killing of elk for sport or fun, and the fact that much of the animals were left behind troubles them.
With files from Megan Thomas, Wawmeesh Hamilton
 
Hereditary chiefs are not "in office" it is a ceremonial inherited position. Incredibly unlikely an elected official from this band would behave in this way considering their efforts to preserve this elk herd.
 
conor_90 said:
Hereditary chiefs are not "in office" it is a ceremonial inherited position. Incredibly unlikely an elected official from this band would behave in this way considering their efforts to preserve this elk herd.
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It's actually worse when a hereditary chief behaves in this fashion. They're the ones that pass down the traditions and cultural beliefs and ensure they're respected. Good for them for taking action.
 
^ I agree with that, just trying to make some distinction; this man had representing the community thrust on him it was not his choice. No attempt to justify his actions; but elk poaching on VI is not just a FN's thing.
 
I totally agree,poaching is not limited to FN,and reguardless,the person buying it is just as culpable ...I am interested in this case as my adopted FN son stopped going hunting with me because about 15 years ago one of his uncles was convicted of killing several pregnant elk just before they calved and left the meat to rot ....in his words' I don't want people who see me out in the bush think I do that stuff'and that was the last time he went hunting( he is a very good golfer )
 
The only way we will have sustainable game management is to have everybody at the table and working together.The idea that just because someone is FN means they can flout the law and agreements that have been made is unacceptable and only creates resentment .But the other side of the coin is when I see vehicles stopping to buy cheap salmon that were supposed to be FN food fishery and the same goes for poached deer,moose or elk .This action by the Uculet band goes a long way to establishing credability on all sides.Hopefuly it spreads to all bands
 
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ratherbefishin said:
I totally agree,poaching is not limited to FN,and reguardless,the person buying it is just as culpable ...I am interested in this case as my adopted FN son stopped going hunting with me because about 15 years ago one of his uncles was convicted of killing several pregnant elk just before they calved and left the meat to rot ....in his words' I don't want people who see me out in the bush think I do that stuff'and that was the last time he went hunting( he is a very good golfer )
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Sorry to hear your son feels that way. An important aspect of the identity of many FN's individuals (and all Canadians for that matter) is hunting. I hope he comes around and embraces that part of his heritage.
 
jeff338edgeai said:
I thinks its time for the FN to integrate into society and stop all the had outs they receive.
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For one thing this way of English Colonial Thinking has not worked in over 175 years and it not going to work now
Because most of BC FN and Canada Government have never sign to meny treaties in BC legally still belongs to the original land owners and not the Crown it's basic Canadian law as well as English law ther is no way around it and if Canada wishes to continue using FN land thay will have to pay rent I for one think it's long over do for a rent Increase ( paying rent it's not considered A hand out canada's gotten off pretty damn cheep so far )


The man was made a hereditary chief by his family and clan which means He had to put up at Potlatch it's a big undertaking on the family and his clan and massoff financial expense .
Him and his Family now has to put up a shame feast wich cost well over 100,000 plus stand up publicly and apologize as well as pay restitution on top of that
its not a light slap on the wrist he would have gotten in provincial court
 
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I fully support Natives rights to hunt and fish for sustenance, without adhering to the hunting/fishing regs that the rest of us comply with, especially in remote areas. Like everything else, things evolve,and perhaps it's time to take another look at the parameters of this in the interest of conservation in 2016, with everyone working together, however that's a bit of a different topic.

Although I fully support the sustenance hunt, I'm completely opposed to abuse of this system, which includes indiscriminate killing of females in areas with low recruitment, killing trophy animals for sale of the trophy, killing animals for meat sales, killing animals and removing only choice cuts of meat (or none at all) and killing animals when the populations don't support a harvest, like this circumstance. Obviously, non natives engage in this poor behavior too, but all of them risk criminal charges, while natives that abuse the system often face few repercussions.

I am very enthusiastic with this decision by the Uculet elders, as it shows a willingness to take the bull by the horns and punish poor behavior. I would like to see more of this, where FN communities stand up and say "no, you can't just wantonly kill, even if it is 'your right'" We are all in this together, healthy game populations benefit us all, so lets stop turning a blind eye to this, just because the courts are unwilling to prosecute natives.

Glad to see Elders taking charge of BS like this, well done.
 
conor_90 said:
Hereditary chiefs are not "in office" it is a ceremonial inherited position. Incredibly unlikely an elected official from this band would behave in this way considering their efforts to preserve this elk herd.
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Each famly has has a hereditary chief and he is The head of his family within ther nashion he is the one how over see and take care of the famly intest in ther property (this is not Ceremony position )
By removing a hereditary chief that famly loss there Voice with in ther nashion and will have to potlatch a new chief as well as
Put up a shame feast
His entire family now has to pay the Price for his action and has cost his Family dearly by the time it's all over it can Easly cost over $200,000 and he never will be the head of his famly again
It's going to take years for his entire famly to Restore there standing within ther nation as well as the Community
Think about it his ants and uncles ,Brothers ,sisters ,cousins ,children and grandchildren all have to pay for his Poor decision Removing a hereditary chief is seldom dun do to the fact it has severe impact on the entire family it's not cheep to be a Indian and nothing is free
 
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carverk said:
For one thing this way of English Colonial Thinking has not worked in over 175 years and it not going to work now
Because most of BC FN and Canada Government have never sign to meny treaties in BC legally still belongs to the original land owners and not the Crown it's basic Canadian law as well as English law ther is no way around it and if Canada wishes to continue using FN land thay will have to pay rent I for one think it's long over do for a rent Increase ( paying rent it's not considered A hand out canada's gotten off pretty damn cheep so far )


The man was made a hereditary chief by his family and clan which means He had to put up at Potlatch it's a big undertaking on the family and his clan and massoff financial expense .
Him and his Family now has to put up a shame feast wich cost well over 100,000 plus stand up publicly and apologize as well as pay restitution on top of that
its not a light slap on the wrist he would have gotten in provincial court
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There is a cost associated with the "punishment" for his actions. Maybe he should have thought of how he was disrespecting his community, and how it would affect his family before he decided to do what he did.

He made the bed.........

As far as paying rent for land use to the "owners"........ I do, it's called tax, and my rent seems to constantly go up.
 
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