After Moses dies in Manitoba, Stop blaming local wildlife and provide equal health care
The Issue
A Manitoba family is mourning the death of 21-year-old Moses Campeau, who died in Sapotaweyak Cree Nation after what RCMP say was an animal attack. Moses' mom Paula has a special request. She believes a mother bear killed him defensively, and she does NOT want the mom bear shot. She understands the love of a mom, and wants the entire bear family humanely relocated to a wilderness area.
Police were called to the community on Sept. 9 after reports of a suspicious death. An autopsy later determined that the preliminary cause of death was an animal attack, but the specific animal has not been confirmed. An autopsy said a big dog, small bear, or a wolf killed him. It is very unlikely a wolf killed this man. Wolves rarely kill people. It was likely a dog attack. His mother thinks that a mother bear killed him, and she wants the bear family humanely relocated. It is bizarre that wolves would even be considered as possible culprits, considering fatal wolf attacks on humans are extremely rare. Even wolf bite incidents are rare. However, people are still blaming wolves. Wolves were not seen in the immediate area, and his clothes were clawed, not bit. With no wolves or dog packs in the area, it is unlikely this was a wild canid. Coyotes are too small to kill a man. This bizarre case of wolf blaming resembles the Beast of Gevauden, a series of fatal attacks in France in the 18th century on humans likely from lions, but blamed on wolves.
As bizarre as it sounds, his injury to his arm, stomach, and bum could have been from an elk throwing him. The weirdest hypothesis is that Bigfoot was involved. But Bigfoot, locally known as Sasquatch, is a gentle animal according to Cree culture, similar to a mountain gorilla or orangutan, who eats fruit and insects. Great apes do not attack people in the wild.
Cameras have been placed around.
Moses’ mother, Paula Campeau, believes a bear was responsible. She said her son was found alive after the attack, with severe injuries, and that two women who discovered him tried to help and performed CPR. She said he died about an hour and a half later.
The family has also raised concerns about the response time for an ambulance, which Campeau said took roughly two hours to arrive.
However, Manitoba officials say the province’s Conservation Officer Service predator attack team is assisting with the investigation and that the preliminary investigation has ruled out a bear attack.
The family had suspected a bear after reports of bears and a cub being seen near the community.
Moses was described by his mother as a strong, hardworking logger and a well-known member of the community.
His funeral is expected to take place later this month.
#Manitoba #SapotaweyakCreeNation #ManitobaNews #CanadaNews #RCMP #WildlifeAttack #CanadianNews
Source: CTV News / Manitoba RCMP
Mystery Animal Attack Kills 21-Year-Old Manitoba Outdoorsman
A Manitoba First Nation is under curfew and “on edge” after a 21-year-old man was killed in an animal attack.
Moses Manasseh Campeau was walking back to a celebration of life for his cousin when he was attacked on a community road in Sapotaweyak Cree Nation on September 9. He was less than 100 metres from his destination, according to his mother, Paula Campeau.
Family members found Moses alive and conscious but critically injured. They comforted him and later performed CPR while waiting approximately 90 minutes for paramedics to arrive from Swan River, about 100 kilometres away. He died before help arrived.
An autopsy determined that Moses was killed by an animal, Manitoba RCMP announced Monday. The animal responsible has not been identified, although provincial officials have ruled out bears.
His mother described Moses as a funny, helpful and witty young man. He was a skilled hunter and trapper who hoped to obtain a commercial fishing licence.
“He was fighting with this thing,” she said. “My son was physically strong.”
Manitoba’s Conservation Officer Service says its predator-attack team is assisting the RCMP investigation. Moses’s mother has questioned how bears were eliminated as a possibility and criticized what she considers an inadequate response to reports of bears and cougars around the community.
Sapotaweyak Cree Nation has imposed a nightly curfew from 9 p.m. until 9 a.m. as officials work to determine what animal was responsible.
Moses’s funeral will be held on September 22.
A Manitoba mother is speaking out after her 21-year-old son died from what RCMP say was an animal attack, saying she believes a bear was responsible and criticizing what she calls a slow response from conservation officers. Many local residents believe a stray dog who didn't have any veterinary care may have been the one who fatally bit him. There is a lack of a humane society in the community. This organization is trying to help the dogs. We are currently off-line, If you are concerned about an animal in distress, please contact the Animal Care Line at 1-888-945-8001. Leave your name, message and a call back number and they WILL return your call.
RCMP in Swan River say they received a report of a suspicious death in Sapotaweyak Cree Nation, just under 600 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg, on Sept. 9. Officers arrived to find a 21-year-old man dead on a road in the community, and Manitoba RCMP’s Major Crime Services took over the investigation.
In Manitoba, the tragic death of a young man, aged 21, has left a community grieving and searching for answers. The incident has stirred confusion and deep emotions, as the specifics of the attack remain unclear. What's certain is a spread of fear and a rush to judgment against the wildlife that shares this habitat with us. https://www.ctvnews.ca/winnipeg/article/manitoba-mother-says-her-son-fought-for-his-life-in-fatal-animal-attack/
Local reports initially suggested an animal attack, but the species responsible remains unidentified. Conservation officials have ruled out bears, yet local residents, fueled by suspicion and fear, are considering trapping bears in hopes of finding justice for a life lost too soon. The focus then shifted to wolves, but experts and local residents know the improbable nature of such a theory—wolf attacks on humans are extremely rare, almost unprecedented. "In the meantime, she said the community has taken matters into its own hands. Her husband, a band councillor, has been talking with residents about organizing their own bear traps, she said, and young men have been patrolling by ATV at night to push bears back from the community’s edge."
This uncertainty has led to a potential knee-jerk reaction of trapping animals from our forests, animals who may be innocent and vital to our ecosystem. Meanwhile, critical evidence and scientific analysis are overlooked. The initial possibilities also included an attack by a dog or even the possibility of homicide, before being ruled out. As emotions run high, the demand for action leads to misguided reprisals against local wildlife.
We understand the heartache and anger that accompanies such a devastating loss, but reacting by retaliation against wildlife will serve no justice and only unbalances our natural world further. Instead, these efforts should be directed towards completing a thorough investigation to find out what truly occurred. It's crucial to use this grief to unite as a community to prevent another tragedy, not by striking out in fear, but by seeking understanding and solutions.
We urge the local authorities and the Manitoba Conservation to uphold policies that promote coexistence with wildlife. Immediate actions should include a halt on the trapping of animals, a comprehensive investigation aided by forensic wildlife experts, and increased support for public education on wildlife interactions.
Join us in advocating for justice and compassion over fear-driven actions. Sign this petition to call on the Manitoba Conservation and local authorities to carry out a meticulous and transparent investigation into this incident, ensuring swift intervention only grounded in factual evidence. Help us encourage approaches that preserve our community and the wildlife that thrive within it.
What we really need is equal healthcare access. Moses died because he didn't get medical care for two hours after his injury. An Indigenous person living in a remote area deserves the same health care as all other people. We request that the province of Manitoba and the government of Canada work together to ensure all communities have a local hospital and paramedics who can arrive in ten minutes or less. Please request healthcare for all.
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The Issue
A Manitoba family is mourning the death of 21-year-old Moses Campeau, who died in Sapotaweyak Cree Nation after what RCMP say was an animal attack. Moses' mom Paula has a special request. She believes a mother bear killed him defensively, and she does NOT want the mom bear shot. She understands the love of a mom, and wants the entire bear family humanely relocated to a wilderness area.
Police were called to the community on Sept. 9 after reports of a suspicious death. An autopsy later determined that the preliminary cause of death was an animal attack, but the specific animal has not been confirmed. An autopsy said a big dog, small bear, or a wolf killed him. It is very unlikely a wolf killed this man. Wolves rarely kill people. It was likely a dog attack. His mother thinks that a mother bear killed him, and she wants the bear family humanely relocated. It is bizarre that wolves would even be considered as possible culprits, considering fatal wolf attacks on humans are extremely rare. Even wolf bite incidents are rare. However, people are still blaming wolves. Wolves were not seen in the immediate area, and his clothes were clawed, not bit. With no wolves or dog packs in the area, it is unlikely this was a wild canid. Coyotes are too small to kill a man. This bizarre case of wolf blaming resembles the Beast of Gevauden, a series of fatal attacks in France in the 18th century on humans likely from lions, but blamed on wolves.
As bizarre as it sounds, his injury to his arm, stomach, and bum could have been from an elk throwing him. The weirdest hypothesis is that Bigfoot was involved. But Bigfoot, locally known as Sasquatch, is a gentle animal according to Cree culture, similar to a mountain gorilla or orangutan, who eats fruit and insects. Great apes do not attack people in the wild.
Cameras have been placed around.
Moses’ mother, Paula Campeau, believes a bear was responsible. She said her son was found alive after the attack, with severe injuries, and that two women who discovered him tried to help and performed CPR. She said he died about an hour and a half later.
The family has also raised concerns about the response time for an ambulance, which Campeau said took roughly two hours to arrive.
However, Manitoba officials say the province’s Conservation Officer Service predator attack team is assisting with the investigation and that the preliminary investigation has ruled out a bear attack.
The family had suspected a bear after reports of bears and a cub being seen near the community.
Moses was described by his mother as a strong, hardworking logger and a well-known member of the community.
His funeral is expected to take place later this month.
#Manitoba #SapotaweyakCreeNation #ManitobaNews #CanadaNews #RCMP #WildlifeAttack #CanadianNews
Source: CTV News / Manitoba RCMP
Mystery Animal Attack Kills 21-Year-Old Manitoba Outdoorsman
A Manitoba First Nation is under curfew and “on edge” after a 21-year-old man was killed in an animal attack.
Moses Manasseh Campeau was walking back to a celebration of life for his cousin when he was attacked on a community road in Sapotaweyak Cree Nation on September 9. He was less than 100 metres from his destination, according to his mother, Paula Campeau.
Family members found Moses alive and conscious but critically injured. They comforted him and later performed CPR while waiting approximately 90 minutes for paramedics to arrive from Swan River, about 100 kilometres away. He died before help arrived.
An autopsy determined that Moses was killed by an animal, Manitoba RCMP announced Monday. The animal responsible has not been identified, although provincial officials have ruled out bears.
His mother described Moses as a funny, helpful and witty young man. He was a skilled hunter and trapper who hoped to obtain a commercial fishing licence.
“He was fighting with this thing,” she said. “My son was physically strong.”
Manitoba’s Conservation Officer Service says its predator-attack team is assisting the RCMP investigation. Moses’s mother has questioned how bears were eliminated as a possibility and criticized what she considers an inadequate response to reports of bears and cougars around the community.
Sapotaweyak Cree Nation has imposed a nightly curfew from 9 p.m. until 9 a.m. as officials work to determine what animal was responsible.
Moses’s funeral will be held on September 22.
A Manitoba mother is speaking out after her 21-year-old son died from what RCMP say was an animal attack, saying she believes a bear was responsible and criticizing what she calls a slow response from conservation officers. Many local residents believe a stray dog who didn't have any veterinary care may have been the one who fatally bit him. There is a lack of a humane society in the community. This organization is trying to help the dogs. We are currently off-line, If you are concerned about an animal in distress, please contact the Animal Care Line at 1-888-945-8001. Leave your name, message and a call back number and they WILL return your call.
RCMP in Swan River say they received a report of a suspicious death in Sapotaweyak Cree Nation, just under 600 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg, on Sept. 9. Officers arrived to find a 21-year-old man dead on a road in the community, and Manitoba RCMP’s Major Crime Services took over the investigation.
In Manitoba, the tragic death of a young man, aged 21, has left a community grieving and searching for answers. The incident has stirred confusion and deep emotions, as the specifics of the attack remain unclear. What's certain is a spread of fear and a rush to judgment against the wildlife that shares this habitat with us. https://www.ctvnews.ca/winnipeg/article/manitoba-mother-says-her-son-fought-for-his-life-in-fatal-animal-attack/
Local reports initially suggested an animal attack, but the species responsible remains unidentified. Conservation officials have ruled out bears, yet local residents, fueled by suspicion and fear, are considering trapping bears in hopes of finding justice for a life lost too soon. The focus then shifted to wolves, but experts and local residents know the improbable nature of such a theory—wolf attacks on humans are extremely rare, almost unprecedented. "In the meantime, she said the community has taken matters into its own hands. Her husband, a band councillor, has been talking with residents about organizing their own bear traps, she said, and young men have been patrolling by ATV at night to push bears back from the community’s edge."
This uncertainty has led to a potential knee-jerk reaction of trapping animals from our forests, animals who may be innocent and vital to our ecosystem. Meanwhile, critical evidence and scientific analysis are overlooked. The initial possibilities also included an attack by a dog or even the possibility of homicide, before being ruled out. As emotions run high, the demand for action leads to misguided reprisals against local wildlife.
We understand the heartache and anger that accompanies such a devastating loss, but reacting by retaliation against wildlife will serve no justice and only unbalances our natural world further. Instead, these efforts should be directed towards completing a thorough investigation to find out what truly occurred. It's crucial to use this grief to unite as a community to prevent another tragedy, not by striking out in fear, but by seeking understanding and solutions.
We urge the local authorities and the Manitoba Conservation to uphold policies that promote coexistence with wildlife. Immediate actions should include a halt on the trapping of animals, a comprehensive investigation aided by forensic wildlife experts, and increased support for public education on wildlife interactions.
Join us in advocating for justice and compassion over fear-driven actions. Sign this petition to call on the Manitoba Conservation and local authorities to carry out a meticulous and transparent investigation into this incident, ensuring swift intervention only grounded in factual evidence. Help us encourage approaches that preserve our community and the wildlife that thrive within it.
What we really need is equal healthcare access. Moses died because he didn't get medical care for two hours after his injury. An Indigenous person living in a remote area deserves the same health care as all other people. We request that the province of Manitoba and the government of Canada work together to ensure all communities have a local hospital and paramedics who can arrive in ten minutes or less. Please request healthcare for all.
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Petition created on September 15, 2026