Some Cree families in Quebec say forest fires and climate change are shifting the way they hunt geese, after fires destroyed their spring cabins last year.
Climate change and last year’s wildfires had a wide impact on Cree traditional territory. Out of 400,000 square kilometres, 12 per cent of the boreal forest was burned from the fires, according to the Cree Nation Goverment’s environment department.
About 150 hunting cabins were burned to the ground too. Kenneth Tanoush from Nemaska lost his campsite from the flames. The cabin was passed down from his late grandfather.
“We lost our Ski-Doo, boats, and canoes. All things useful for our hunts were lost … We loved it there. That’s where my daughter shot her first goose,” said Tanoush.
Tanoush usually takes his family there for Goose Break every year