It is distressing to see that people are still trying to justify their actions (ie. "Road-Hunting") by claiming poverty or illness. While I too find that shooting whatever wildlife crops upon the side of the road to be unsporting, I have further arguments not touched on by Mr. Coderre.
Mr. Coderre claims that road hunting is for subsistance hunting, period. However, Mr. Coderre then goes on to say that either he cannot afford to take time off work or does not get two weeks time off each year. If he cannot get the time off, that is one thing, and many hunters in the community end up with surplus meat that they either sell or give away. This is a viable option not addressed at all by Mr. Coderre. Also, I believe for it to be true subsistence hunting, you should not have the option of driving to the Super A and paying with debit.
As for not being able to afford time off to go proper hunting, because of expensive equipment that needs to be paid off...that is the lamest excuse I have heard in a while. I do not believe that the First Nations had the luxury of expensive hunting equipment, and yet....and yet, they have existed on subsistence hunting. Without asphalt roads. Without expensive guns. Without ATV's and snowmachines.
Any and all reasons to hunt off the road are ridiculous and unjustifiable. It is not a "hunt" if you are driving up and down the road in a heated truck, with a tumbler of coffee and a bag lunch. That is a Sunday drive - not hunting.
If you are not physically able to hunt - and when I say hunt I mean the traditional meaning of hunt, to go into wilderness and track your prey - then perhaps you should not be hunting.
If you simply cannot hunt by any other means than road-hunting....don't hunt. Many elders are past the age of hunting, but still able to get fed because of the nature of First Nation communities. We have similar institutions (Food Bank and Food Stamps) for non-native individuals. To say this is a necessary form of hunting for the young family with huge ATV payments or old-timers with illness' or fixed incomes is ridiculous. If you cannot afford to eat but are making payments on an ATV your priorities are out of whack. If you can drive for hours up and down the road hoping to find something to kill but are not able to feed your family....yikes! Less money on gas, more on potatoes!
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Veteran Miner's Prayer Answered!
As Andy Hureau implicates in his "prayer" to "God" that ALL mining areas are no longer viable as they have been protected, I say GOOD.
Food, clothing, shelter and heat do NOT exclusively function with the help of metals as he indicates. I am almost certain people existed without metals in era's prior to the "Bronze Age" and "Iron Age".
I could be wrong, and we could be misplaced aliens living on this nice planet, but according to archelogical evidence, people DID survive without metal impliments.
While I am not trying to say that it is easy to survive without metals, it IS possible. And the wonder of recycling has made mining less in demand, because who wants tailings changing the natural plane of the land with big, ugly piles of "waste rock" when we could melt down the metals previously mined instead? If MORE recycling could be utilized in MORE places in the world, we could possibly stamp out mining all together.
Is anyone mouring the loss of the "operator" job in telephone switchboards? Who still wants to hear 10lb headphones and connect calls all day for minimum wage or less??
I view the mining industry much the same...miners as they were no longer exist, and all the more better for it. Mining is awfully hard on the environment, and while perhaps Mr. Hureau
couldn't be bothered to give two rat poops about the environment where he would like to mine, I am sure that his progency will still need clean air and water, and unpoisoned food to survive. They will need clean water air and food more than shiny metals. So perhaps Mr. Hureau's idea of lying to his grandkids about the nature of his work is a correct inspiration, as they may be wildly upset to know that Grandad is doing his part to poison and infect their food, water and air.
Food, clothing, shelter and heat do NOT exclusively function with the help of metals as he indicates. I am almost certain people existed without metals in era's prior to the "Bronze Age" and "Iron Age".
I could be wrong, and we could be misplaced aliens living on this nice planet, but according to archelogical evidence, people DID survive without metal impliments.
While I am not trying to say that it is easy to survive without metals, it IS possible. And the wonder of recycling has made mining less in demand, because who wants tailings changing the natural plane of the land with big, ugly piles of "waste rock" when we could melt down the metals previously mined instead? If MORE recycling could be utilized in MORE places in the world, we could possibly stamp out mining all together.
Is anyone mouring the loss of the "operator" job in telephone switchboards? Who still wants to hear 10lb headphones and connect calls all day for minimum wage or less??
I view the mining industry much the same...miners as they were no longer exist, and all the more better for it. Mining is awfully hard on the environment, and while perhaps Mr. Hureau
couldn't be bothered to give two rat poops about the environment where he would like to mine, I am sure that his progency will still need clean air and water, and unpoisoned food to survive. They will need clean water air and food more than shiny metals. So perhaps Mr. Hureau's idea of lying to his grandkids about the nature of his work is a correct inspiration, as they may be wildly upset to know that Grandad is doing his part to poison and infect their food, water and air.
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