Quebec wildlife officials say Labrador Innu had no rights to seized caribou

Wildlife officials from Quebec say the Labrador Innuhad no rights to the caribou meat officers seized fromInnu Nation Grand Chief Gregory Rich and a few companions last week.

The meat, which Rich said wasgiven to him as a gift on behalf of the Chisasibi Cree First Nation, was seized inOuj-Bougoumou, Que.,a Cree communityabout 300 kilometres northwest of Saguenay.

The meat came from the Leaf River caribouherd, which has been declining in size.

Rich said the Cree nation has permission to hunt the Leaf River caribou and that he had a letter from Chief Davey Bobbish supporting the Innu Nation in taking the caribou to Labrador.

Still, wildlife officers told him it was illegalto hunt caribou in Cree territory or to be in possession of the caribou meat, he said.

According to a statement issued by Quebec's wildlife ministry on Monday, the area in question falls under the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement, which protects the hunting rights of the Cree, Inuit and Naskapi beneficiaries.

The LabradorInnuNation isnot a beneficiaryin the region, the statementsaid, and sothey must comply with Quebec's hunting regulations.

An investigation into the incident is underway, according to Quebec officials.

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