National Inuit Leader Mary Simon issued the following Statement regarding Canada’s Position on the 2009 Seal Hunt

“I commend Canada’s new Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, Gail Shea, for her definitive and strong support for the continuation of seal hunting in Canada and I share in her extreme disappointment with the European Commission’s proposed seal import ban regulation that is currently being considered for the European Union as a whole. While Minister Shea echoes what Inuit and others have been saying regarding the seal ban, we believe that a lead minister representing Canada internationally should not hesitate at taking strong leadership stances and actions in the protection of our fundamental interests, rights, and livelihoods. Our interests have been affected before and they are once again threatened by negative impacts from trade market barriers being proposed by the European Commission. I believe that the idea of the government ‘buying out’ sealers from their way of life, as suggested by animal rights groups, is misguided and is adverse to notions of our rights as human beings to determine our own way of life and destiny. We have been put through experiences in the past where our culture was being forced to change against our will, and as Inuit we would not wish that on others.”

“I hope the Canadian government will renew its actions against the European Union which plans to ban the import of Canadian seal products. The seal hunt in this Country is sustainable. Period. If it were not, Inuit would be the first to cease the hunt. Why? Because our culture and in many cases livelihood depends on the seal. I am tired of seeing tax payers’ hard earned money in many countries going to certain animal rights organizations whose very existence and objectives fly in the face of real sustainable animal harvesting. In this time of global economic turmoil surely every nation on earth should support its citizens attempting to protect their economies and cultures.”