Officers from the GNWT鈥檚 Department of Environment and Climate Change (ECC) are investigating an incident of potential caribou wastage along the Tibbitt to Contwoyto winter road.

On Feb. 20, Facebook user Keegan Black-Fowler shared photos of what he estimated were about a dozen caribou lying in the snow.

He later told 黑料吃瓜网 he was 鈥渆nraged鈥� by what he saw.

鈥淧eople that are hungry could have used [the caribou] and would be grateful to have it,鈥� he said. 鈥淢y people believe that the caribou will give their lives for us to keep living. This slaughter just shows the greed and disrespect of some people only caring for themselves.

鈥淭hey probably only did that so they can sell their meat and make money.鈥�

ECC was promptly notified about the incident, which generated widespread outrage on social media. The government department assigned some of its renewable resources officers to look into the incident.

Wastage is a violation of section 54(a) of the Wildlife Act of the NWT. It can lead to fines of up to $50,000, imprisonment for a maximum of one year, and potentially both.

According to Black-Fowler, those responsible should have their gun licences suspended, and receive 鈥渁 big fine鈥� for each wasted animal.

It remains to be seen if ECC can find the culprits who caused this incident.

The department could not guarantee a successful investigation, but pledged to be 鈥渃ommitted to pursuing every lead and utilizing all available resources to identify those responsible for the incident.鈥�

Black-Fowler is not optimistic the investigation will bear fruit.

鈥淚鈥檝e heard talks about an investigation opening up and I don鈥檛 think they鈥檒l find the culprits,鈥� he said. 鈥淏y the looks of it [the culprits] were rushing, as they knew what they were doing was wrong and greedy.鈥�

Earl Evans, a Fort Smith-based M茅tis Elder and member of the Beverly and Qamanirjuaq Caribou Management Board, called the incident 鈥渢errible.鈥�

Unfortunately, it鈥檚 not the first time he鈥檚 been made aware of caribou wastage.

鈥淗appens every year on the ice road,鈥� he said.

Some NWT residents have suggested that access to the ice road should be limited in order to reduce the frequency of incidents like this.

Evans shares that opinion, but said 鈥渢he talk of closing the ice [road] has went on forever鈥� with little results.

鈥淲e used those roads to get caribou since ice roads went in in the 1960s,鈥� he added. 鈥淲e hunted them every year and for a lot of people it鈥檚 their only chance to get meat for their community.

鈥淚t鈥檚 difficult because of some people abusing the opportunity. Myself, I like to go up and maybe get some wolves along with caribou. We have to do it in a respectful manner.鈥�