Should native Indian traditional hunting methods be allowed?

[Ken The Kanuck]

You may be aware that we have a much higher percentage of population for native Indians in Canada than what there is the U.S.

In many northern rural communities the majority of people are native Indians.

Many have always claimed that they have the right to pursue their traditional hunting and gathering unimpeded by the government or laws. And in fact this is pretty common. The government seems to be reluctant to charge native Indians, expecially with anything to do with hunting or fishing.

As a matter of fact they even apply a different standard of law for murder, etc. because they are native Indians, but that's another story.

What do you think? Should native Indians have the right to practice traditional hunting methods?

KTK

[Art]

I can't answer that because (a) I'm not a Canadian, and (b) I don't know the law in Canada. I would say that if the navitve hunting methods are the result of a treaty then they should be allowed. If they are provided for by simple civil law I think that my answer would probably be no. If they native people are just flat out poaching then the answer would definately be not

[Griff Murphey]

Most of the film I've seen of this involves using motorboats and modern high power rifles. How is that TRADITIONAL except maybe traditional for the last 50 years? I respect the rights of the Native people of both the U.S. and Canada to engage in subsistence hunting, but they are usually not using sealskin Kayaks and harpoons anymore. I mean, we whites used to bust buffalo out of train car windows with .47/90's just for grins and furs. THAT was once "traditional" and we don't do THAT anymore....

[TomSudz]

Ken, is this hunting on tribal lands or public land? If it's tribal lands, then definitely yes. On private property with permission of the owner, yes. Public property, I'm not sure. That one I might lean toward yes with a specialty hunting license being needed. The only reason I go toward the specialty license is that otherwise, anybody out poaching would claim to be an Indian.

[Ken The Kanuck]

Art, the question is applicable to both the U.S. and Canada.

Tom, Public lands, but you bring up a good point.

KTK

[Art]

Art, the question is applicable to both the U.S. and Canada.

Tom, Public lands, but you bring up a good point.

KTK

I know it is which is why I asked the question. I am not sure of the circumstances you are referring to. There are plenty of folks who for one reason or another think they have a right to do something against the law.

[Fred]

If it involves killing whales, dolphins and baby seals, no. Otherwise, I don't give a damn.

[Art]

Basically if its protected by treaty - yes. Otherwise probably not even if it's legal. In other words I can't give a simple yes or no answer.

[RED]

Some of the "traditional" methods such as running a entire herd of buffalo over a cliff and using black walnut husks to poison all the fish in a pond or stream are just too extreme. In addition it also sends the message "us" versus "them" mentality and there is WAY too much of that already going on especially here in the U.S.

[John Sukey]

I think that Ken would have a few words to say about the native Canadians with their "traditional" pot farms.