New Brunswick Indian moose hunt decried

FREDERICTON, New Brunswick – New Brunswick’s Opposition says a moose hunt by Indians in the province is out of control and could pose a health hazard to consumers.

Shawn Graham, the Liberal natural resources critic, said about 200,000 pounds of Indian-harvested moose meat is being sold in the province each year.

He said there is no quota on the hunt, and while the meat is being sold commercially, it is not inspected.

Graham said Thursday the Tory government should impose a quota on the hunt to ensure the moose herd remains viable.

Graham presented a memo in the Legislature showing the office of the chief medical health officer had raised concerns about the sale of uninspected meat.

Natural Resources Minister Jeannot Volpe said the Indian community is basing the right to hunt the moose on the Marshall decision.

In 1999, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that Donald Marshall Jr., a Micmac from Nova Scotia, had a treaty right to fish eels out of season. It also said the Micmac, Maliseet and Passamaquoddy tribes can hunt, fish and gather to earn a moderate livelihood, within rules set by Ottawa.