Fort McMurray Mtis hunter claims victory after province returns confiscated bear skin

A Fort McMurray Mtis man is claiming victory after the Alberta government returned his bear hide, ending a two-year battle over Mtis rights in northern Alberta.

LennyHansen shot the black bear near Fort McMurrayin the spring of 2015. He skinned and cleaned the bear's fur and ate parts of the animal.

• Mtiselder won't cut his hair until Alberta respectsMtisrights

But after he dropped the skin off at a taxidermistto have it made into a rug, Hansen got a call from Alberta Fish and Wildlife officers. They had confiscated the hide, Hansen said, and threatened to charge him with hunting without the proper tags.

"I went that same day up to the Mtis local and said, 'I am kind of lost here, I don't know what is going on. This is kind of scaring me to be honest,' " Hansen said.

Alberta has a Mtisanimal-harvesting policy that allows members of the Mtis Nation of Alberta and members of a recognized Mtis settlement to hunt, fish and trap in their communities with proper licences and registrations.

Fort McMurray, however, is not recognized as a harvesting community.

The Mtis Nation of Alberta has argued it wasn't consulted when that policy was developed and it doesn't need permission from the province to hunt on its traditional lands.

Charges dropped

Wildlife officers seized the bear skin on March 2, 2016, spokesperson Brendan Cox said, after obtaining a search warrant fora taxidermy business in Westlock.

"This bear skin was seized as there was concern the harvester in question had not applied to Environment and Parks to have their Mtisharvester status recognized and had no other hunting licence," Cox wrote in an email.

I see something that took it's last breath right in front of me

7 years ago

Duration 1:03

Mtis hunter Lenny Hansen talks about what hunting means to him and the conflict around Indigenous hunting rights

Cox said all "contemplated charges" were dropped following a standard review process that considers evidence and the law, and after Hansen applied for a licence.

It's not clearfrom the statement how Hansen was approved as a Mtisharvester when the province doesn't recognize Fort McMurrayas a legitimate harvesting community.

Cox also said Alberta Environment and Parks is in the process of developing a new Mtisharvesting policy.

'A born right'

Ron Sturgess Sr., who works forthe McMurray MtisLocal 1935, helped secure the return of Hansen's bear skin.

He said this and other incidents between the Mtis and wildlife officers are examples of the overall lack of respect for the rights of Indigenous peoples.

"This is a born right that Lenny has had since he was brought into this world," Sturgesssaid. "His forefathers and family has been doing this harvesting for centuries."

Hansen hopes his victory emboldens other Indigenous harvesters who have felt like backing down after being threatened with charges when for practisinghunting and fishing traditions.

"I know that there has been dozens, if not hundreds, of other people in the past still dealing with these kind of similar things right now." Hansen said. "I hope this can maybe help the process in the future."

RAW: Alberta Fish and Wildlife seize fish from a Mtis camp

7 years ago

Duration 1:56

WARNING: Video contains language some might find offensive. Viewer discretion is advised. Alberta Fish and Wildlife officers seize fish from a Mtis camp outside Conklin, just south of Fort McMurray. Video supplied by Roxy Power.

This is not the first time in recent months theMtisnation and the province have clashed over harvesting rights.

• Province apologizes after wildlife officers seize fish from northern AlbertaMtiscamp

In September, wildlife officers were filmed confiscating smoked fish from a cultural camp south of FortMcMurray.

Fish and Wildlife alleged the fish was caught without securing a free licence. The localMtisin Conklin condemned the province's move, saying it was culturally insensitive and infringed on their rights.

After the video of the incident went viral on social media,Alberta's Indigenous relations minister Richard Feehan apologized and personally delivered some frozen fish to replace the ones seized.

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