Province creates hunting buffer zone on Bloodvein First Nation

The Manitoba government is creating a buffer zone restricting where non-Indigenous hunters can harvest moose on Bloodvein First Nation’s traditional lands.

Manitoba Natural Resources and Indigenous Futures Minister Ian Bushie announced the change late Monday as moose season began for game hunting areas 17, 17A and 17B that includes the traditional areas of the First Nation, located 285 kilometres north of Winnipeg.

The community, which established a check stop to prevent illegal drugs and contraband from entering the First Nation, warned “outside hunters” on social media weeks ago that they’re not welcome to take moose on their traditional lands.

The Manitoba Wildlife Federation has questioned the First Nation’s authority to block licensed hunters with a moose tag from the area and called on the provincial government to intervene.

“Sustainability is key,” Bushie said in an interview, promising to focus on the area to get an assessment of how many moose are there. “We’re going to put our survey emphasis on this area… this year and well into next year so we can get some more accurate figures, as well, too. (Bloodvein) will be involved in that process, as well as the wildlife federation.”

On Monday, Bushie said amendments to regulations under the Wildlife Act establish a buffer zone that protects an area of 500 metres on either side of Rice River Road within game hunting area 17B, which connects Bloodvein First Nation to Berens River First Nation. The 500-metre zone is also in effect on either side of the Bloodvein River and Namay Falls, up to the intersecting border of game hunting areas 17, 17A and 17B.

The buffer zone will remain in place for the 2025 hunting season only, and represents a proactive step toward conservation, community leadership and shared decision making, Bushie said.

The minister said he spoke to Bloodvein leadership and the wildlife federation Monday about the buffer zone.

“It was just a matter of all us coming to the table and having conversations,” he said. “At the end of the day the nation’s also really, really concerned, as we are, with the sustainability of this population.”

Bloodvein Chief Lisa Young was unavailable to comment Monday.

“It’s a knee-jerk reaction to an unlawful road block,” Manitoba Wildlife Federation senior policy adviser Chris Heald said. He was waiting for more details from the province about the buffer zone regulations before commenting further, he said.

Manitoba conservation officers will work closely with community safety officers to educate people about the buffer zone and monitor it throughout this fall’s hunting season, the province said in a news release.

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca