Newfoundland and Labrador's natural resources minister was taking a tough approach Thursday to wildlife officers said to be frustrated over an incident involving hunting in a closed area this week.
"I cannot have within the agency someone who works outside the mandate," Natural Resources Kathy Dunderdale told CBC News, responding to the suggestion that some wildlife officers feel they were undermined by the department when a seized vehicle was returned to Innu who admitted to hunting in a closed zone.
The incident happened Monday when wildlife officers set up roadblocks in an area near the central Labrador community of North West River where they believed three hunters from nearby Sheshatshiu were killing caribou.
The area is closed to hunting because the provincial government believes the herd that roams the area, the Red Wine caribou herd, is endangered. The Innu disagree.
The officers called in the RCMP for assistance after the hunters drove through two roadblocks. Police managed to stop the hunters at a third roadblock and wildlife officers confiscated the truck, a rifle and the carcasses of eight caribou.
Charges related to hunting in a closed zone have been laid against the hunters.
Innu Nation president Peter Penashue said things were tense for a while.
"That created a lot of attention and emotion because you can imagine the emotions are very high over this issue," he said.
Penashue said the hunters admit they were hunting in the zone, and the Innu demanded the truck be returned.
"We were out hunting — and that's a fact — in a closed zone," Penashue said. "And so what we said is, 'You don't need the vehicle to establish evidence because we're not contesting that.'"
Dunderdale confirmed to CBC News that wildlife officials did return the truck to one of the hunters. She said it happened after her department contacted justice officials for a legal opinion.
"We were advised by Justice that the truck was not required any longer for evidence purposes," Dunderdale said. "And that they certainly didn't have an issue with returning the truck to the owner and that was subsequently done.
"There is no need to exacerbate volatile situations when they exist," she added.
Enforcement officials told CBC News that they're not happy about being undermined by their political bosses.
Penashue said he's heard the same thing.
"You know, there's obviously some people within the department here in Happy Valley-Goose Bay who feel ... that the Innu should be punished," he said.
Dunderdale said she understands wildlife officers are frustrated, but said: "It is not our place to teach lessons."
She said that is for the justice department to deal with, not wildlife officers.