Washington Lookout Pack Yearling Wolf 2008 (WDFW)
The Colvillle Tribes, in eastern Washington, are holding a wolf hunt on their 1.4 million acre reservation, which is larger than Glacier National Park in Montana. There are at least 2 wolf packs living on the reservation, maybe three. Many wildlife advocates were shocked by this turn of events. The Colville tribe’s actions run contrary to Native Americans in the Great Lakes, specifically the Ojibwe, who are struggling to save their wolf brothers.
“The wolf, Ma’iingan, is considered sacred by the Ojibwe and figures highly in their creation stories. Tribal member Essie Leoso noted that according to tradition, Ma’iingan walked with first man.
“Killing a wolf is like killing a brother,” she said.”….Indian Country, Today Media dot com
I understand the Colville Tribe land is sovereign and they have the right to manage their affairs as they see fit but it’s very difficult to understand why the tribes would hunt wolves when so few wolves exist in Washington state in the first place and are still protected under state law in Eastern Washington. It’s especially disturbing coming on the heals of the slaughter of the Wedge Pack, which is still fresh in every one’s minds. I hope the tribe re-thinks this decision. Wolves are a vital part of the ecosystem, they keep ungulate herds healthy and strong.
Scientists are sounding the alarm over the loss of our top predators:
“Just as the world’s lions, tigers, and bears are disappearing worldwide, a scientific consensus is emerging that they are critical to ecosystem function, exerting control over smaller predators, prey, and the plant world.
Using such terms as “deep anxiety” and “grave concern” to signal their alarm, the authors contend that the loss of large animals, and apex predators in particular, constitutes humanity’s “most pervasive influence” on the environment. It amounts, they argue, to a “global decapitation” of the systems that support life on Earth.”…Environment 360, The Crucial Role of Predators
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Colville Tribe opens wolf hunting season on reservation
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Wisconsin Tribes Struggle to Save Their Brothers the Wolves From Sanctioned Hunt
Wolf Hunting Not Allowed on Three Minnesota Reservations
October 29, 2012
The three reservations are depicted in Zone A on the map in the MnDNR Wolf Regulations. Tribal officials advise that going on Indian lands to take game, including wolves, is a federal crime under Title 18 of the United States Code and that they would seek the prosecution of violators.
The Tribal Councils say that hunting wolves for sport is inconsistent with a tradition of subsistence hunting and that for some members, hunting wolves presented conflicts with cultural practices.
Click HERE to read more:
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Ojibwe bands ban wolf hunting – but only on Indian-controlled lands
by Dan Kraker, Minnesota Public Radio