Hunting Polar Bears is not the problem
Canadian Inuit fear for their future if the polar bear will be listed as threatened
The Inuit fear that putting polar bears on the red list will prevent indigenous peoples opportunities for traditional hunting. "I don't see how listing it as threatened will complement the sustainability of the population. It is climate change that is the problem, not the sustainable hunting of polar bears." says Duane Smith, the president of the Inuit Circumpolar Council (Canada) on the Indigenous Peoples Secretariat (IPS) homepage.
At the moment, Inuit are convinced that polar bears are being hunted at sustainable levels. Some polar bears in Canada are currently hunted by American hunters, who pay well for the experience. The hunt brings more than one and half million dollars a year into small Inuit communities in the territory of Nunavut. The listing of polar bears would likely threaten that hunt, and the money it brings into the communities.
"Our hunters and guides benefit economically and we are able to continue with our culture, enjoy the benefits of what we use, and ensure that this is done in a responsible and sustainable manner," says Duane Smith.