Potts 'not guilty' of poaching

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A vice-president of the Indian Association of Alberta says he is not guilty of poaching following a two-year provincial sting operation resulting in charges.

Percy Potts, vice-president for Treaty 6, was charged with poaching Nov. 13 along with eight other people and a numbered Alberta Company.

Potts says he "has never hunted for the purpose of trafficking. This is all news to me."

All those charged, along with a 10th person still being sought, face a total of 65 charges, primarily hunting for the purpose of trafficking wild game and possession of wild game for the purpose of trafficking, says the head of special investigations at Alberta Fish and Wildlife.

Craig Hockley says an undercover officer was used in 1988 to infiltrate the poaching operation. During the investigation the officer witnessed the killing of 14 moose, four deer and two elk, says Hockley.

But Potts calls the sting operation "entrapment because our people don't understand the law."

Potts says he is shocked by the charges. "I don't even know the people charged except maybe to see them." he says.

Potts says he has no connection with the numbered company, which Alberta Fish and Wildlife maintains may have ties with an Edmonton restaurant on Stony Plain Road where the wild game may have been sold.

Potts says he is disappointed the Indian Association of Alberta had to be "dragged into this because it has a serious impact on my ability to do my work."

IAA president Regena Crowchild was out of the country and unavailable for comment.

Potts says the incident proves the whole issue of treaty hunting rights must be clarified. "Natives have a treaty right to hunt. The government is not allowing us to retain our traditional lifestyle."

Potts says he hopes the courts will bring a clearer understanding to the rules, which apply to treaty Indians.

Hockley says poaching has " a tremendous impact on the resource and that's why selling or buying game meat in Alberta is illegal for all citizens."

Pots along with Howard Bruno, Joe Blyan, Gilbert Potts, William Potts, John Therrian and Evelyn Willier are to appear in Stoney Plain provincial court Nov. 28. The name of the eighth person was unavailable.

Some of the charges carry penalties of up to $100,000 in fines and / or six months in jail.