Wildfires

First Nations Affected by British Columbia Wildfires

A First Nation in British Columbia's Cariboo region is calling for a moratorium on hunting until officials can confirm sufficient numbers of wildlife have survived the wildfire season. The Nazko First Nation is concerned that wildfires in his traditional lands in the Cariboo Chilcotin region may have dramatically reduced the number of moose and deer.

The Nazko have survived as traditional hunters on their ancestral land for thousands of years with moose, deer and salmon as staple proteins.

Most of the community has been evacuated to Quesnel for weeks, while some remain on the First Nation's main reserve, west of Quesnel.

The Cariboo Chilcotin has had 11 fires of note since early July which have caused a number of evacuations, a temporary ban on backcountry travel and burned 783,699 hectares of land.

A herd of wild horses was recently reported burned to death by the neighbouring Tsilhqot'in First Nation.

On top of the anxiety surrounding the annual hunting season, this year's salmon returns have been dismal. Salmon are susceptible to liquid fertilizers found in fire retardant and ammonia compounds found in retardant can kill aquatic life if not diluted.