The B.C. government has introduced Bill 14, the Wildlife Amendment Act, 2022, to ensure greater collaboration and reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples in the management of wildlife in the province.
The B.C. government introduced legislation to ensure greater collaboration and reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples in the management of wildlife in the province. The legislation introduces a requirement to consider Indigenous Knowledge and establishes a process by which the Province can align its laws with protocol hunting agreements and traditions that have long existed.
Indigenous knowledge
A key change in the legislation is the recognition of Indigenous knowledge about wildlife. In this way, knowledge systems that are embedded in the cultural and traditions of Indigenous people and are based on observations and interactions with the environment can be respected and incorporated when decisions about wildlife management are being made under the Wildlife Act.
Sheltering
This change enables the Minister and First Nations to enter into legally binding agreements on “Sheltering”. Sheltering is the practice of a host First Nation permitting a guest First Nation to harvest wildlife within the host’s traditional territory. Permission typically comes with conditions (e.g. who may hunt what species, when, where, and by what means). When a First Nation enters into these agreements with the Minister, it will bring provincial laws into alignment with the existing indigenous laws. This change is also expected to improve certainty around data collection and sharing of information on wildlife.
Consultation
Changes to the Wildlife Act were co-developed with Indigenous members from several First Nations and followed by consultation and engagement with all First Nations, the seven modern Treaty Nations and Indigenous-led organizations. Key wildlife and habitat organizations in B.C., including the BC Wildlife Federation, the B.C. Trappers Association, and the Guide Outfitters Association of B.C. were also engaged.