Bloodvein First Nation Will Bar Non-Indigenous Hunters From Land Amid Overhunting Issues

A Manitoba First Nation says it will no longer allow non-Indigenous hunters on its land, after years of alleged moose overhunting and meat wastage left the community’s traditional hunters with a dwindling animal population and few opportunities to hunt.

Bloodvein First Nation, located just over 200 kilometres north of Winnipeg along the eastern shore of Lake Winnipeg, erected no-trespassing signs on Saturday.

The First Nation is calling on the province to stop issuing hunting licences in Bloodvein territory.

Chief Lisa Young said non-Indigenous hunters, including those with licences, will be turned away at the community checkpoint — where one of the no-trespassing signs is stationed — if they try to enter the area.

“We’d like to stop people from driving into our First Nation and taking over this area and hunting off of our river,” Lisa Young said.