Fur industry defended

Parliamentary Report

Page 2

OTTAWA - Canada's external affairs department treads too softly in its defence of the fur industry, says Parliament's Aboriginal affairs standing committee.

Liberal Committee member Keith Penner, his party's Indian affairs critic, says that external is too "timid" in its support of a traditional industry that brings millions of dollars to the country's Aboriginal peoples.

Penner was speaking at the release of the committee's report on the fur industry: "The Fur Issue: Cultural Continuity, Economic Opportunity."

The report cites the damage that the animal rights movement has inflicted upon the fur trade and recounts the efforts of various Aboriginal groups to counter this threat to their cultures and economies.

The Department of Indian and Northern Affairs is also condemned for its lack of support of Aboriginal trappers. "We would emphasize that activities in the land-based economy are Aboriginal rights," said Penner, "and the (Indian Affairs) department under the minister has an obligation through its trust responsibility to guarantee these rights, and therefore they should be much more active in encouraging these activities than they have been in the past."

The report made a total of 36 suggestions to help preserve the traditional land-based economy of Canada's Aboriginal peoples. Some of the more important of these suggestions are:

1. That the federal government issue a statement officially recognizing the importance of the trapping industry to Canada and especially to Aboriginal and northern peoples. The statement would commit the government to the preservation of the trapping industry and to working toward greater economic benefits for Aboriginal and northern trappers and toward more humane standards of trapping and wildlife management.

2. That Indian Affairs assert and support the fundamental right of the Aboriginal people of Canada to pursue hunting and trapping.

14. That the federal government ensure that Canada's Aboriginal people are given a substantial role in the management of wildlife and in the conservation of Canada's renewable resources.

15. That the feds recognize and fund Indigenous Survival International as the Aboriginal advocate in international activities to counter the anti-harvesting threat.

16. That the feds recognize and fund the Aboriginal Trappers' Federation of Canada

as the umbrella organization for Aboriginal hunters and trappers in domestic activities to counter the anti-trapping threat. In this role, the organization would provide educational service to hunters and trappers and the public at large by disseminating information on Aboriginal participation in the fur industry and the amount and quality of the Native fur harvest.

19. That the Fur Institute work with Aboriginal organizations to encourage Aboriginal involvement in other aspects of the trade besides trapping.

31. That the environment department support the inclusion of indigenous renewable resource activities in the World Conservation Strategy.

33. The DIAND designate personnel and financial resources in order to carry out its mandate to take lead responsibility for the government's domestic pro-fur activities, and

34. That External Affairs undergo an attitudinal change in favor of recognizing the legitimacy of trappers as an economic activity, and actively promote the fur industry in overseas posts.