Manitoba Wildlife Federation fighting to remove highway checkpoint erected by First Nation

The Manitoba Wildlife Federation is urging police and the provincial government to remove a highway checkpoint erected by the Bloodvein First Nation, which cuts off access to a large area of provincial crown land on the east side of Lake Winnipeg.

First Nations representatives say they’re worried about the overharvesting of moose in the area, announcing that non-Indigenous hunters who try to enter will be turned away. Since the checkpoint was set up in late August, access has been denied to several hunters trying to scout locations, as well as to a Manitoba Hydro worker carrying a fishing rod in his truck. As of late September, the checkpoint remained in place.

“It’s unlawful for the First Nations to block a provincial highway and then deny access to crown lands,” says Chris Heald, the MWF’s senior policy advisor. “We’re not talking about reserve lands or treaty lands. These are public lands, but they’re asserting these are now traditional areas.”

Heald says the MWF has written to the head of the RCMP in Manitoba, but had yet to receive a response. However, the federation has had multiple meetings with Natural Resources Minister Ian Bushie and his staff, attempting to come up with a solution.

Considering there are dozens of First Nations in Manitoba, and 83 per cent of the province is crown land, Heald says the checkpoint sets an alarming precedent. “If government doesn’t say this is unacceptable, the floodgates will open,” he warns.

Heald also contends that if other Indigenous groups assert that crown lands are under their exclusive authority, the province will lose all control of game management. That’s because, unlike licensed hunters, Indigenous hunters are not required to report their harvests, he notes.

According to Heald, access issues of this type have been simmering for some time in Manitoba, so if there’s one ray of hope, it’s that the current situation could finally bring all stakeholders to the table. “We need to get some leadership from the provincial government that says, ‘This is unacceptable. You can’t block a highway. These are shared resources, and we must all share in them.’”

Learn more about the MWF at www.mwf.mb.ca.