Hunting Advisory for Hunting in other First Nation Territories

09/27/2023

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) wishes to advise Kahnawa’kehró:non who plan to hunt in the traditional territories of other First Nations, to be aware of the following issues:

• Over the last few years, Mohawk hunters were stopped by provincial and First Nation conservation officers
• Some were charged with hunting without licenses or a letter and for being in possession of “illegally” obtained moose
• There is currently a court case pending
• Other Mohawk hunters were stopped but not charged because they were accompanied by a local First Nation hunter or had a letter from the community whose traditional territory they were hunting in.
• Conservation officers will ask you to provide a letter from the host community acknowledging that you are hunting in their territory.

Please note that anyone who is not a member of the community where they are hunting may be subject to arrest and seizure by the conservation officers.

Ietsénhaienhs Jessica Lazare is currently a co-chair of the Iroquois Caucus Harvest Working Group, which addresses hunting issues. Any questions should be addressed to her or Dennis Diabo, the MCK technician working on the file.

As we have already had two complaints from other communities, and now that hunting season is upon us, we felt it was important to remind hunters that there is a process that should be followed. You must contact the host community to advise them of your intent to hunt in their territory and request a letter of acknowledgment from their office.

This ensures that our principles of respect are adhered to when exercising our rights and responsibilities.