Service Description

Hunter safety is the foundation of responsible harvesting. It combines both modern safety practices and traditional Indigenous teachings to ensure the well-being of hunters, communities, and the environment. Key teachings: Firearm & Equipment Safety: Handle all tools respectfully and carefully. Always be aware of your surroundings, and never take unnecessary risks. Preparation & Knowledge: Learn the land, weather, and animal behavior; respect the natural balance of ecosystems. Respect for Life: Take only what is needed, and ensure no part of the animal goes to waste. Community Responsibility: Keep others safe—elders, youth, and fellow harvesters—by modeling good judgment and respect. In many Indigenous traditions, hunting safety also includes spiritual safety — grounding oneself, offering thanks, and maintaining a clear mind before the hunt. Inherent rights are the original rights Indigenous peoples hold as the first peoples of the land — they exist because of long-standing occupation, stewardship, and governance that predates colonization. Inherited rights are passed down through generations, carrying both the legal and spiritual responsibility to continue traditional practices such as hunting, fishing, trapping, and gathering. Inherent Rights: These come from Indigenous peoples’ original sovereignty and connection to the land. They are not granted by governments — they have always existed. Inherited Rights: These are passed from ancestors to descendants, ensuring cultural survival and the continuation of sacred relationships with the land and animals. Treaty Rights: These are legally recognized agreements between Indigenous Nations and the Crown (or governments) that protect the rights to hunt, fish, and gather on traditional territories. Inherent, inherited, and treaty rights all affirm that Indigenous peoples have the right and responsibility to care for the land according to their own laws, traditions, and values. When hunters follow safety practices, uphold inherent, inherited, and treaty rights, and respect traditional laws, protocols, and cultural teachings, they are: -Honoring their ancestors and future generations. -Strengthening Indigenous sovereignty and self-determination. -Maintaining balance and respect with the natural world. -Preserving Indigenous languages, stories, and worldviews.