Involvement in fur harvesters convention encouraged

Page 11

The Fur Harvesters Auction Inc.'s 11th annual convention will be held this year on March 1 to 3 at their fur warehouse in North Bay. The theme of this year's convention is Winter Beaver Trapping. Once again this year there will be live entertainment, fur handling (skinning) demonstrations and seminars, as well as the favorite pelt handling contests. The convention is open to the public and is usually well attended, giving trappers the opportunity to better educate the general public on the history and current need for humane trapping of fur bearing animals.

"The pelt handling contests are to promote the educational and competitive aspects of preparing pelts for market under a friendly, but competitive atmosphere. It is also intended to educate, as well as entertain those who do not wish to enter but who want to further expand and improve their own pelt handling techniques," explained Mark Downey, director for the Fur Harvesters Auction Inc.

The Fur Harvesters Auction Inc. (FHA) is the largest fur management company in Canada and is solely trapper owned and operated. It is also unique in that the management board of the FHA is a 50/50 split between a Native and non-Native board of directors.

However, in past years, turn out of Native trappers for the convention has been poor. The FHA is hoping that this year participation and involvement of Aboriginal trappers and their families will be better than in the past. It is hoped Dorothy Polson, a 70-year-old traditional Muskeego grandmother from Waskaganish in James Bay will once again attend the conference. The last time Polson attended was in 2000. Although she had not planned on entering the beaver skinning contest she was talked into doing so and took second place. Prior to that she had not attended the conference for seven years.

"Dorothy is a real treat to watch as she is a traditional woman who rough skins the beaver and then uses a bone scrapper to scrap the pelt. It is rare to be able to watch someone with the skills to still use these types of tools," said Giselle Downey, manager of Trans Canada Trapline Co. Inc. (a trapping supply company).

From 1980 to 1993, Polson won the Women's Canadian Championship for beaver skinning and handling at the annual meeting of the Ontario Trapper's Association 10 times, seven times consecutively.

For more information on the Fur Harvesters Auction's 11th Annual Convention contact Julie at (705) 495-4688 or by e-mail at: julies@furharvesters.com