Deer Lake, MNR establishing new relations over trap lines

Deer Lake First Nation and the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) are discussing a new relationship about the maintenance and management of various trap lines in Deer Lake traditional territory.
“We haven’t worked with MNR for a long time in our community,” Gary Meekis, band resource worker in Deer Lake said.
“It’s good that we are beginning to re-establish our relationship with them.”
Meekis said that many community members would like to begin construction of cabins along the trap lines because hunting and trapping during the spring and fall is wide spread in the community. But there is a lot of red tape involved in the current management of the trap lines through MNR.
“Right now we are working with MNR on ways to make this process (building up the trap lines) easier,” Meekis said.
MNR and Deer Lake are working on a system that will give chief and council authority to make all decisions regarding the trap lines, Meekis said of the yearlong discussions.
One of the reasons for the new discussions is that many of the trap lines have not been maintained or upgraded in a long time.
“Lots of youth are really interested in trapping,” Meekis said. “We want to update the trap lines so it will be easy for them to go out and learn how to trap.”
In the past trappers were in charge of the trap lines, but Meekis said most of those people are now deceased so it is important someone take charge of maintaining and updating the trap lines.
“We want to start fresh with the MNR and get the trap lines up to date,” Meekis said.
In the spirit of establishing a new relationship with Deer Lake, the MNR brought special medallions to give to the community during the recent Treaty No. 5 commemorations.
The medallions said, “Honouring the past, acknowledging the present, aiming for the future … Northerners working together.”
The MNR also lent the community trapper tents and sleeping bags to help with hosting the commemoration events.
Meekis said Deer Lake and MNR are working as fast as they can to get an official agreement in place so construction of new cabins and other updates to the trap lines can begin.