Million-dollar bighorn sheep hunting trade divides indigenous peoples in northern Mexico

Posted On: December 12, 2022

Hermosillo (Mexico), December 4 (EFE).- The traditional authorities of the Comca’ac -Seri- Nation have been divided by the differences generated by the managing the $1 million profits from hunting bighorn sheep, one of the world’s greatest hunting trophies, on Shark Island, Mexico’s largest, located in Sonora in the northwest from the country.

The council of elders chaired by Enrique Robles Barnett, has fired Tribal Governor Joel Barnett Morales, and they are demanding that he submit accounts of the money for the sale of headbands for hunting rock sheep, with the scientific name Ovis Canadensis.

“What is embezzled is the hunting tourism resource, the money that comes out of it is what is wrong, that is what we requested, that the Seri government who manages this money hold a meeting and say how much money is coming in, how much money has been spent, these resources,” asked Robles Barnett.

Every year, dozens of hunters from around the world, but mostly from the United States, come to Sonora to catch bighorn sheep.which represents one of the greatest hunting trophies in the world for the experience of carrying out this activity on an island, surrounded by the Sea of Cortez, facing the indigenous territory.

Recently, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador announced the Justice Plan for Indigenous Peoples which contemplates actions and programs for the social and economic development of the Comca’ac Nation, but conditions the progress of this government action in exchange for the cessation of bighorn sheep hunting and photographic safaris.

In response, the traditional Seri government demanded that the justice plan move forward first, and then, when it sees the commitments of the Mexican government materialize, the Comca’ac Nation will analyze whether to suspend the hunting of the bighorn sheep, a species that is not threatened with extinction but which enjoys “special protection” according to official Mexican regulations.

Regarding the dismissal of the traditional governor of the Seri tribe, the President of Sonora, Alfonso Durazo, warned that the division between indigenous authorities could shift outside interests to indigenous peoples.

“We have issues with the Seris and the Mayos, these are legitimate interests that are not adequately addressed in political terms, but as I am respectful of their ways and customs, it is a matter that they must express. “, did he declare.

He claimed that the division is detrimental to the people as interests outside the community can flee.

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Every year, dozens of foreign hunters pay at least between 50,000 and 60,000 dollars to enter the territory, who protects the traditional Seri guard, and hunts a bighorn sheep; however, in Las Vegas, USA, hunting licenses for this species are auctioned up to $200,000.

This activity represents millions in profits that should supposedly benefit these indigenous peoples, however, the fate of these resources is a mystery and has never been reflected in the development of the Comca’ac Nation, where only about 700 people live. people.