For Mi'kmaq, hunting moose is 'the heart and soul of what the Creator has designed'

At 21 years old, Blake Christmas has already been hunting moose for a decade throughout Cape Breton, sharing the meatwith Mi'kmaq elders, single parents andfamilies on social assistance.

"When I bring the moose meat, they light up," Christmas saidwhile on a walk Tuesday near Caribou Marsh, just outside Sydney."They're so thankful for it and it makes me feel warm inside."

The tradition of moose hunting is passed down from elder Mi'kmaqhunters, like Clifford Paul, a moose management co-ordinator atUnama'ki Institute of Natural Resources.

"This is the heart and soul of what the Creator has designed, for us to be participants within this ecosystem, for us to use ceremony, honour and respect," Paul said. "For me, this is telling me I am doing the right thing."

'Balance of the ecosystem'

According to legend, Indigenous people promised the moose they would hunt it with love in their hearts, treat it with respect, share it with people in needand harvest all its part, he said. That promise is at the core of the hunt, which in turnmaintains the forest'sbiodiversity and environment for the moose, Paul said.

For the last two years Paul has organized the moose hunt in a small part of Cape Breton Highlands National Park.Parks Canada has said 15 years of research showedreducing the moose population saved forest vegetation.

Even so, the park-sanctioned moose cull has been met by protesters.

'Savannas of grass'

The moose trample vegetation, impeding the natural regrowth of the forest, Paul said. Theycreate"savannas of grass" where there should be a vibrant boreal forest thatregularly regenerates, he said.

While non-Indigenous hunters may think it's good to have lots of moose, Paul said the biodiversity is essential to maintain for all mammals, like thrush, bobcat, pine marten and lynx, as well as moose.

"TheMi'kmaqare more concerned with the balance of the ecosystem," he said.

Christmas is now passing on his knowledge to new hunters in his community.

"It's not something you'd sit down in class and write a test on," he said."It's something that you just over time you develop a skill and apply respect to it."

Christmasharvested his first moose for the Membertoupowwow. It was a big bull that walked onto the road as the sun was coming up.

"I was shaking from head to toe," hesaid.

The "very satisfying" feeling of bringing back the animal to feed the community is what motivates him to keep up the practice, he said.

"Passing it down, it'svery important, keeping our traditions alive," Christmas said.