British ColumbiaThe Nuxalk Nation is demanding an apology and for their local MP to cancel a scheduled visit with the local hunting club in the wake of a grizzly bear attack in the Central Coast community.Nation says the Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP failed to reach out following attack, demands apologyAndrew Kurjata · CBC News · Posted: Dec 11, 2025 10:36 PM EST | Last Updated: 31 minutes agoListen to this articleEstimated 3 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.Skeena-Bulkley Valley Conservative MP Ellis Ross, seen here with Tory Leader Pierre Poilievre in April, is facing criticism from the Nuxalk First Nation after a recent bear attack. (Aaron Whitfield/The Canadian Press)The Nuxalk Nation is demanding their local MP cancel a meeting with a hunting club, set to take place in the wake of a high-profile grizzly bear attack in the Central Coast community.Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP Ellis Ross, the former chief councillor of the Haisla Nation and current Conservative MP representing the area of Bella Coola, is scheduled to meet with the Bella Coola Rod and Gun Club this Saturday, the nation says.Elected Nuxalk Chief Councillor Samuel Schooner says the meeting comes despite the fact Ross failed to reach out to his nation in the wake of the Nov. 20 bear attack, which badly injured three children and a teacher from the Acwsalcta School.”This incident has been the single most challenging time in our [nation’s] recent history, and we received an outpouring of support from our own community, our neighbouring [nations], allies, the provincial government, and people from across the country,” Schooner said in a written release.LISTEN | Schooner slams planned visit from Ellis Ross:Radio West7:25Nuxalk Nation calls upcoming trip, planned by their local MP to their territory, ‘disrespectful’ and ‘tone deaf’Samuel Schooner, elected chief councillor of the Nuxalk Nation in Bella Coola, has called for Ellis Ross, Conservative Party MP for Skeena-Bulkley Valley, to cancel a trip and meeting in the community which is still healing from grizzly bear attack last month.”We did not, however hear from Mr. Ross or any representative from his office,” the statement adds.”The [nation] was therefore shocked to learn that Mr. Ross has since made plans to meet with the members of the Bella Coola Rod and Gun Club to discuss, according to their website, ‘the current bear situation and gun legislation’ this upcoming Saturday.”In an interview with CBC News, Schooner said Ross has since expressed an interest in a meeting but since it was, in his eyes, an afterthought, the invitation was declined.”Obviously, we’re not a priority,” he said, calling the MP’s actions “disrespectful” and “tone-deaf.”CBC News reached out to Ross but has not heard back. It also reached out to the rod and gun club, whose president confirmed the meeting, but declined to speak on the record.Ellis Ross, seen here in April 2017, did not respond to a CBC News request for comment. (Robin Rowland/The Canadian Press)Details of the meeting were not on the club’s wesbite when viewed Thursday afternoon, following the nation’s demand for an apology.Ross has made one public statement on the attack on his Facebook page, dated Nov. 22, in which he wrote “my family and Skeena Bulkley Valley are thinking of the children, family and community of Bella Coola.”Attack reopens debate on grizzly huntThe attack was deemed highly unusual by both conservation officers and members of the Nuxalk Nation, who say they have long coexisted with grizzlies and that the school group was well-acquainted with bear safety.While some groups have used the attack as an opening to reopen the debate on lifting a ban on hunting grizzlies in B.C., conservationists and the nation have said there is little evidence that the hunting ban is responsible for the attack.WATCH | Father of girl attacked by bear reflects on coexistence:Father of girl involved in grizzly attack reflects on coexistence with natureJason Moody is father of one of the children involved in the attack by a grizzly bear on Nuxalk students and teachers near Bella Coola, B.C. He says people from his community have been living alongside bears for thousands of years, and this recent event shows the need to be in balance with nature. The B.C. Conservation Officer Service called off its search for a bear responsible for the attack last week after extensive efforts which included capturing, testing and releasing eight other grizzlies who were in the community.The service said in a social media post that, with grizzlies moving into denning season, they are “no longer actively trying to capture bears, and equipment has been removed.”The captured bears that are being relocated will be equipped with GPS collars for monitoring purposes.With files from Hanna Petersen and Radio West
Nuxalk Nation upset MP Ellis Ross meeting with hunting club after grizzly attack
