A Vuntut Gwitchin man has been fined for hunting without permission

A Vuntut Gwitchin man has been fined for hunting without permission outside his nation’s traditional territory. He has been ordered to learn about the rights of First Nations hunters, and their responsibilities. The hunter had told conservation officers he had permission from the Champagne Aishihik First Nation to hunt moose or bison, the latter of which requires a permit. But the hunter didn’t have a permit and he did not receive the permission of the Champagne Aishihik, which supported the prosecution of the 49-year-old man. It is the first time Yukon has enforced rules that govern hunting in the territory of another First Nation. The hunter was fined $1,000 and is barred for two years from licenced hunting. Further, he must take the government’s hunter education course before being issued a permit.