Wildlife federation asks court to remove blockade after First Nation turns hunter away

The Manitoba Wildlife Federation is turning to the courts after a blockade prevented a Manitoba hunter from passing through a First Nations community last month.

The province’s largest hunting organization filed a notice Monday against the Manitoba government, Natural Resources and Indigenous Futures Minister Ian Bushie and Bloodvein First Nation. It asks the Court of King’s Bench for an interim injunction to lift the blockade before licensed moose hunting season begins on Dec. 1.

Manitoba hunter Wes Cottrell and his son tried to drive into Bloodvein First Nation on Sept. 27 when they were stopped and questioned at a blockade set up on a highway south of the community.

When Cottrell said he was on his way hunting, safety officers at the blockade got Bloodvein Chief Lisa Young on the line.

“I am not understanding where the issue is on why I can’t go down a provincial highway and enter Crown land on a waterway,” Cottrell can be heard saying on a video taken of the encounter by his son. The video was provided to the Free Press by the wildlife federation with a lawyer identifying Cottrell, who could not be reached for comment, as the person featured in the video.

Young interjected saying “Crown land that belongs to the Anishinaabe people of Bloodvein River First Nation since 1876.”

The chief went on to explain that the band’s lawyer had “developed a law, pertaining to our traditional territory” that was sent to Bushie in collaboration with him.

“All we ask is that you obtain access into our traditional territory via float plane — and Minister Bushie was made aware of that. Minister Bushie also referred to that area as being a closure area, so we have it closed.”

Cottrell noted the province’s guidelines don’t allow hunting in certain buffer zones near the waterways but “as long as I enter and walk in 500 metres, I am well within my rights to hunt there.”

The driver said he and his son had legal permits to hunt moose.

“I am exercising my rights as a Canadian citizen with a Manitoba authorized hunting licence… I’m not with the Manitoba Wildlife Federation — I am just someone attempting to feed my family.”

After further back-and-forth, the hunter drove away.

“I will be turned around and we will let the courts decide,” he said.

The court documents, filed Monday, also take aim at moose hunting restrictions issued by the provincial government last month.

The federation also seeks a judicial review of changes made last month that exclude hunters in three game hunting areas near Bloodvein. It also asks the court to declare that anyone with a Manitoba moose hunting licence can travel on roads and waterways in those areas, as well as all unoccupied Crown land.

“Canadian courts have held that ‘the use of a blockade is an unacceptable method of dissent,’ Carly Deacon, the wildlife federation’s managing director, said in a statement.

The checkstop was originally set up to prevent illegal drugs and alcohol from entering the First Nation. In August, it warned “outside hunters” they were not welcome on their traditional land, located some 270 kilometres north of Winnipeg.

In a statement, Bushie said the government has been working with Bloodvein, the wildlife federation and licensed hunters.

“Conservation officers have been assigned at the checkstop in Bloodvein First Nation, throughout, to help ensure fair and safe access to big game hunting areas on the east side of Lake Winnipeg during this year’s hunting season,” said Bushie. “We understand this matter is now before the courts and therefore will not comment on the specifics.”

The Free Press requested comment from Young last week and again by email at 11:22 a.m. Tuesday. No response was received.

Changes to Wildlife Act regulations added 500-metre buffer zones on either side of the main road and river at Bloodvein for the 2025 hunting season. The wildlife federation and the Manitoba Lodges and Outfitters Association said the changes were made without consultation from either organization.

The wildlife federation is asking the courts to have the matter heard prior to the resumption of licensed moose hunting from Dec. 1 to 14.

The federation said the blockade consists of concrete barriers, a trailer and a wooden structure to stop vehicles from passing on either side of the road.

“First Nations public safety officers do not have authority to police or enforce the provisions of the Wildlife Act or regulations applicable to licensed moose hunting,” the court document says.

“The BFN blockade of Rice River Road is unlawful.”

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca