Ross River Dena Council to appeal hunting licence court decision

Yukon's Ross River Dena Council is appealing a recent Yukon Supreme Court ruling denying them a say in how hunting licences are issued in their traditional territory.

• Ross River Dena lose case seeking consultation on hunting licences

In late November, Yukon Supreme Court Justice Ron Vealeruled against the Dena Council, saying that the Yukon Government has "made continuing and extensive efforts to consult RRDC about wildlife management in the Ross River Area."

The Dena Council argued that by permitting non-residents to hunt around their traditional territory in Ross River, they are not accommodating Kaska rights.

Gord Zealand, the executive director of the Yukon Fish and Game Association, was an intervener in the case. He's concerned about the appeal, saying that Yukon First Nations already have input in how licences are issued through the territory's Fish and Wildlife Management Board.

"We would hope that that process would stay in place," said Zealand."If you got a decision where something was different, well what does that mean for wildlife management in the Yukon?"

The appeal is expected to be heard when the territory's Court of Appeal convenes in the spring.