Licensed hunters will be allowed to travel through checkstop and access public land for December moose hunting season
Winnipeg, MB: Justice Ted Bock of The Manitoba Court of King’s Bench has decided to allow Bloodvein River First Nation to maintain a checkstop on the Rice River Road to intercept drugs and alcohol, while observing that a checkstop should not be used to prevent licensed moose hunters accessing Game Hunting Areas 17, 17A and 17B for the December moose hunting season.
In September, Bloodvein River First Nation had announced it would prevent licensed moose hunters from accessing public land (outside of their reserve lands) during the fall moose hunting season, and later erected a checkstop on the Rice River Road. While the checkstop was intended to prevent drugs and alcohol from entering the reserve, it was also used to prevent licensed moose hunters from passing.
On October 20th, having failed to get an enforcement response from the RCMP, the provincial Attorney General, or the federal Minister of Public Safety, the MWF filed an application in the Court of King’s Bench seeking an injunction to prevent the operation of the blockade during the upcoming December portion of the moose hunting season.
The Court heard the application on November 13th and at that hearing in response to a question from the Judge, Chief Young committed that licensed hunters would be allowed to pass through the checkstop. That commitment was later confirmed in writing by Bloodvein River First Nation’s counsel the day before the court rendered its decision.
In its decision today, the court quoted from a decision of the Manitoba Court of Appeal that “the use of a blockade is an unacceptable method of dissent,” and referenced the commitment from Bloodvein River First Nation to allow licensed hunters to pass during the December season. Nonetheless, the Court refused to grant a formal injunction for technical reasons, allowing Bloodvein River First Nation to operate the checkstop for the purpose of excluding drugs and alcohol from its reserve lands.
MWF will always defend Manitobans’ outdoor heritage and right to access our public lands. We are pleased to have achieved a commitment confirming the rights of licensed hunters to travel through and enjoy our public lands.
