SELKIRK — Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew is urging a First Nation to reconsider turning away licensed hunters this season, saying the move could incite "backlash" and lead to hatred toward Indigenous people. Bloodvein River First Nation, north of Winnipeg, set up a check stop near the community last year to prevent drugs and alcohol from being brought in. The community also erected signs that prohibited non-members from hunting in their territory and deterred hunters from accessing public land in the area, citing a dwindling moose population. The Manitoba Wildlife Federation said this week it has received five reports that the community was turning hunters away again after the moose hunting season began on Monday. Kinew told reporters on Friday that he understands people in Bloodvein are passionate about the moose population, but that treaties are about sharing the land. "You're not going to find too many people out there who respect Indigenous knowledge more than me," said Kinew, who is Anishinaabe. "What I would say to folks who in Bloodvein are supporting this check stop, this is not the way to do it. When you take actions like this, it's not a sustainable intervention because you are provoking a negative reaction, and lets be honest it's going to be a hateful reaction." He said conserving the moose population requires the province, Indigenous communities, hunters and the wildlife federation work together. The government has attempted to find an "amicable solution" to de-escalate the situation and is open to moving forward in a constructive manner, but Kinew said if Bloodvein continues preventing others from enjoying the land, it could lead to ripple effects. "It's not going to be you at the check stop who's paying the price. It's going be some kid on the playground. It's going to be some person walking on the street by themselves." The province has sent a cease-and-desist letter to Bloodvein on Sept. 19, and shared that with the RCMP two days later, said Kinew. Police said on Friday it is aware of the checkstop on Rice River Road, approximately 20 kilometres south of Bloodvein, and is working with the province and other stakeholders on the issue. Bloodvein Chief Lisa Young did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Manitoba Wildlife Federation said a provincial aerial survey of the area found the moose population is stable. "Wildlife management decisions should be informed by these scientific assessments, not an informal road blockade that prevents Manitobans from travelling on a public highway," it said in a Facebook post on Thursday. "This issue is bigger than one group of hunters, one community or one hunting season. It is about the rule of law and the precedent being established for public access throughout Manitoba." The federation took the First Nation to court last year asking for the check stop to be taken down. A judge ruled the check stop could remain in place. The province previously enacted a buffer zone near Bloodvein that was enforced last season. Bloodvein is one of a few First Nations in the province that is taking action to stop hunting in its traditional territory due to low moose numbers. Misipawistik and Pimicikamak Cree nations have asked hunters to voluntarily refrain from hunting in the area. The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs is calling on the province to meet with the three First Nations to address their concerns. “These Nations are demonstrating what responsible First Nations governance looks like,” Grand Chief Kyra Wilson said in a statement this week. “They are protecting the animals that sustain their people and ensuring those resources remain for generations to come. Their knowledge and laws must be part of the decision-making— not an afterthought.” -- This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 25, 2026. By Brittany Hobson in Winnipeg. The Canadian Press
