Gameti man says he saw chief David Wedawin leave caribou meat behind
A resident of Gameti, N.W.T., testified Wednesday that he saw the chief of his community and two other men leave meat from more than 15 caribou behind while hunting in April 2013.
Gameti Chief David Wedawin and brothers Jimmy and Frank Arrowmaker are each charged with a dozen counts of meat wastage.
The N.W.T. Department of Environment and Natural Resources says the men wasted caribou meat while hunting on Hottah Lake near Gameti. Wedawin and the Arrowmaker brothers say they were hunting at the time the meat was found but say they weren't responsible for the wastage.
Gameti resident Leon Wellin told the court in Behchoko that he and two other hunters were also hunting on Hottah Lake.
Speaking through a Tlicho interpreter, Wellin testified he saw Wedawin and the Arrowmakers leave meat from more than 15 caribou behind.
Wellin said he and the other hunters began collecting some of the meat and putting it in their toboggan.
A wildlife officer testified earlier Wednesday that when he arrived on the scene, Wellin and the other two hunters were the only people there. That officer said Wellin told him he was just taking some of the meat but didn't shoot the animals.
A half hour into Wellin's testimony, the Tlicho interpreter said she was feeling unwell and Judge Brian Bruser adjourned the trial to this morning.
The defence will have a chance to cross examine Wellin today.