Death threat aimed at chief of B.C. First Nation over proposed changes to moose, caribou hunting

Chief Judy Desjarlais is still rattled days after receiving a voicemail threatening her and other members of the Blueberry River First Nations with death because of changes proposed to moose and caribou hunting rules in B.C.'s northeastern region.

"His message was straight anger," she said on the weekend after receiving the message Thursday. "It scared me a bit, I understand there is a lot of anger."

She believes the message was left in reaction to proposed interim changes by the province to close caribou hunting in B.C.'s Peace region and reduce moose hunting by half for two years. It's part of a greater plan to maintain the health of the herds and also uphold treaty rights involved in a landmark 2021 court decision.

"Nobody ever expects to get these calls but it's something out of anger and not being educated in the right manner," said Desjarlais.

There is significant opposition to the proposed hunting regulations in the Peace, but the offensive voicemail, which was shared with CBC News, has brought condemnation from Desjarlais, the province's forests minister, minister of Indigenous relations and reconciliation and local politicians.

On Friday in a joint statement Katrine Conroy, Murray Rankin and Dejarlais said the threat was, "illegal and abhorrent.

"We are shocked and angered after learning of recent threats of violence made against members of Blueberry River First Nations," it said.

The statement said the voicemail has been forwarded to local RCMP which is investigating. Officers want anyone with information to contact them.

The province is currently negotiating with Blueberry River First Nations over hunting regulations in its territories to help meet obligations from the Yahey v. British Columbia court decision from June 2021.

That ruling upheld Blueberry River's 2015 claim that years of extensive industrial development in the region violated their rights under Treaty 8. The treaty signed in 1899 covers northeastern B.C., northern Alberta and smaller parts of Saskatchewan and the N.W.T.

The court said the province failed to maintain the nation's rights to hunt, fish and trap without interference. While no single project had a devastating effect on the community, the court said the cumulative impact of a series of projects limited the nation's ability to maintain its rights.

"Moose and caribou are of critical importance to the Treaty 8 way of life," said a statement from the ministry of forests. "The Treaty 8 Nations have experienced a significant diminishment of, and interference with, their way of life including their ability to successfully hunt moose and caribou."

Desjarlais said that hunting is a "big part of the way of life for all residents of northeast B.C., whether Indigenous or not," but wants people to understand the importance of treaty rights and negotiation with the province.

She said that although the province has published proposed changes that if would affect the ability for people to hunt caribou and moose in the region, no final decision has been made.