PR (Wolf 2020): 099 - Report on a Public Hearing Held by the Wek’èezhìı Renewable Resources Board 22-26 March 20105-6 August 2010 Behchokǫ, NT & Reasons for Decisions Related to a Joint Proposal for the Management of the Bathurst Caribou (ekwǫ̀) Herd.

In November 2009, the Tłı̨chǫ Government and ENR submitted the Joint Proposal on Management of Caribou in Wek’èezhìi to the Board, which proposed harvest limitations. The WRRB considered any restriction of harvest or component of harvest as the establishment of a total allowable harvest (TAH). The WRRB complied with Section 12.3.10 of the Tłı̨chǫ Agreement and held a public hearing in Behchokǫ̀, NT in two parts on March 22-26, 2010 and August 5-6, 2010. The WRRB has concluded, based on all available information that a conservation concern exits for the Bathurst caribou herd and management actions are vital for herd recovery. However, rather than implementing a TAH, the WRRB has been persuaded by ENR‟s and Tłı̨chǫ Government‟s argument to implement a harvest target instead. The WRRB recommends that the Minister of ENR and Grand Chief of the Tłı̨chǫ Government establish a harvest target of 300 Bathurst caribou per year for 2010/11, 2011/12, and 2012/13.