First elk hunt in 125 years for Tsleil-Waututh Nation

For the first time in over a century, the Tsleil-Waututh Nation are hunting elk intheir traditional territory, and for John Thomas, 27, and Peter Waugh, 29, the hunt hasdeepened their relationship with the land, and to the practices of their ancestors.

Some of those practices, anyway.

Thomas and Waugh are self-described modern hunters. The cousins areoutfitted with top-of-the-line rifles and scopes and have learned to butcher deer bywatching YouTube videos. Waugh has even taught himself elk calls using an app on hissmartphone.

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Its a far cry from how some of their First Nations elders, including Tsleil-Waututh hereditary chief Ernest George, were taught.

A generational gap was obvious when the first elk was killed.

Thomas, Waugh and Chief George were part of the Tsleil-Wautuths first elk huntin Indian River, the bands traditional territory in North Vancouvers Burrard Inlet thefirst elk hunt in over a century.

125 years ago," clarifiedThomas, "was the last time an animal of that size was hunted on our lands. And we gotthe opportunity to be the first group to go up there and do that.

When they brought the first elk down, Thomas and Waugh were overcome withemotion and they cheered and high-fived in celebration - something Chief George didntapprove of.

When we went hunting and got a deer, we thanked our ancestors for helping us,and we treated the animal with respect, said Chief George.

Its this modern-day stuff,that jumping up and cheering. You know, its just their way of expressing. But, that wasnot the way we were taught.

The cousins have done their best to incorporate the teachings of Elders like ChiefGeorge into their hunting practices. After each kill elk or deer they bury the animalsinnards, give a tobacco offering, and say a prayer of thanks.

We try our best to do it traditionally, said Waugh. Weve never been taughtby anybody, so we take this information weve been given and we try our best. But werenot going to stop cheering, I dont think. Its just something you feel inside, and I cantstop that.

The return of the elk

In the late 1800s, elk in the Indian River watershed were hunted out. And, until arecent reintroduction, they had been completely extirpated fromB.C.'s LowerMainland.

Back in the day there used to be elk up there, but then they had the big cullingof them,explained Waugh."They used to walk down Granville Street. They just wiped them right out in theLower Mainland,

The process of returning elk to the Indian River watershed began about ten yearsago, when British Columbias Ministry of Environment approached the Tsleil-Waututhas part of the Lower Mainland Roosevelt Elk Recovery Project.

In 2006, 20 elk fromthe Sunshine Coast were barged up to the watershed and released. Thomas was there forthe reintroduction.

It was like thunder, said Thomas. All the cows rushing out of that trailer, andoff down the road they went. Ill remember that for the rest of my life.

Six years later, the population was deemed strong enough for a limited hunt. Provincial wildlife officials still keep tabs on the elk, and the band manages their hunters.

In order to ensure the continued health of the herd, only a handful of elk can be huntedeach season. The Tsleil-Waututh conduct an annual lottery to determine which bandmembers will get their chance.

Elk are designated each year by the band as community elk, meaning that some,including the first elk shot in 2012, are hunted for community gatherings, and deliveredto Elders.

Hunters sharing meat among the community is a practice steeped in Tsleil-Waututh tradition, according to hereditary chief Ernest George.

Theyd always behelping whoever had the least, he said.

Today, volunteers from the band, including Thomas and Waugh, hunt communityelk. Through their Treaty, Lands and Resources Office, Tsleil-Waututh providesequipment and transport to Indian River, which is only accessible by boat.

Our leadership decided thisis important enough to back it up, and get our young guys up there with our elders to dothe hunt.- Ernie George,director of Treaty, Lands and Resources

Chief Georges son, Ernie George, is the director of Treaty, Lands and Resources.

The nation doesnt have a lot of funds, he explained. And our leadership decided thisis important enough to back it up, and get our young guys up there with our elders to dothe hunt. Thats why the first harvest ended up being a community event.

Returning elk to Indian River has become a point of pride in the Tsleil-Waututhssmall urban reserve, home to fewer than 300 people. The hunters who brought down thefirst elk were honoured in a ceremony, and the elks head is mounted on the wall of thecommunity centre.

To be able to hunt for our community again, its an honour," said Waugh.Its definitelysomething good for the community to go back to the old ways. There was a sense ofpride, for the community, and for everybody involved,

Hunting into the future

Camouflaged smartphone cases and high-fives may not have been a part of theirTsleil-Waututh ancestors hunting style hundreds of years ago, but Thomas and Waughare certainly aware of the history of the hunt. And, for them, its not just stories passeddown over generations. Theyre living it.

Theyre going to inspire some more of that generation to take part. Im proud of both of them.- Ernie George,director of Treaty, Lands and Resources

While Thomas and Waugh may do things their own way, the importance of thehunt to the Tsleil-Waututh is not lost on them. Through their involvement, they hope toinspire younger band members to get involved.

Theyre going to inspire some more of that generation to take part, said ErnieGeorge. Im proud of both of them.

Id definitely be interested in passing it on, said Waugh. "The Tsleil-Waututhtradition of hunting nearly disappeared with the elk, explained Waugh, but were tryingto get it back.

This series on aboriginalyouth produced in partnership with the Reporting in Indigenous Communities course at theUBCGraduate School of Journalism.