WRRB Approves Proposed Status and Action Plan for Ekwǫ̀ (Caribou) Herds

The WRRB passed a motion to approve the Advisory Committee for Cooperation on Wildlife Management’s (ACCWM) proposed statuses for the Sahtì (Bluenose-East), Bluenose-West, and Cape Bathurst Ekwǫ̀ (Caribou) Herds in December 2025.

The ACCWM consists of six Member Boards: Wildlife Management Advisory Council (NWT), Gwich’in Renewable Resources Board, Ɂehdzo Got’ı̨nę Gots’ę́ Nákedı (Sahtú Renewable Resources Board), Wek’èezhìı Renewable Resources Board, Kitikmeot Regional Wildlife Board, and Tuktut Nogait National Park Management Board.

The ACCWM determines herd status each year using information gathered through traditional knowledge, scientific studies, and harvest data.  Once the ACCWM determines the assessment for each herd, a separate Action Plan for each herd is completed and forwarded to appropriate governments for implementation.

Following the 10th Annual Status Meeting on November 18-20, 2025, the ACCWM proposed the following statuses for each herd:

• Cape Bathurst herd is in the YELLOW zone
• Bluenose-West herd is in the ORANGE zone
• Sahtì (Bluenose-East) herd is in the YELLOW zone

Based on the community and scientific information provided, the Board approved the proposed statuses for Sahtì (Bluenose-East), Bluenose-West, and Cape Bathurst Ekwǫ̀ Herds as presented. Each Member Board is required to get approval for the proposed herd statuses within 30 days. The Member Boards share their decision to ensure consensus.

The ACCWM is currently undertaking an evaluation of the existing Taking Care of Caribou Management Plan, which will be used as guidance for the 10-year management plan review in 2026. View the existing plan here: Taking Care of Caribou: the Cape Bathurst, Bluenose-West, Bluenose-East Barren Ground Caribou Herds Management Plan.