Over a month after a terrifying grizzly bear incident involving a group of students and staff on a field trip in Bella Coola, the Chief of the Nuxalk Nation is urging for increased mental health support in the community.
Chief Councillor Samuel Schooner emphasizes the long-term impact of the Nov. 20 attack on a Year 4-5 class, expressing concerns over the lasting trauma the individuals may face. He stresses the importance of providing ongoing support to help them cope and heal from the harrowing experience.
Schooner highlights the challenges of attracting mental health professionals to remote areas like Bella Coola due to issues such as housing shortages and limited financial incentives.
Following the incident, Minister of Environment and Parks Tamara Davidson announced that the Ministry of Education and Child Care had engaged with the Nation to offer crisis intervention, trauma assistance, and safety resources.
Despite receiving support from Davidson and Premier David Eby, Schooner criticizes the lack of communication from their Member of Parliament, Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP Ellis Ross, alleging insufficient outreach and efforts to address the community’s needs.
The bear attack left three students and a staff member with severe injuries, causing deep emotional distress among those involved. One parent described their child as “traumatized,” having even felt the bear’s fur during the terrifying encounter.
Over the following weeks, the B.C. Conservation Officer Service conducted a search for the bear responsible, capturing and releasing eight bears before determining none were involved in the attack. The search was halted on Dec 5 as local bears began hibernating, with a conservation officer now stationed in Bella Coola to provide immediate assistance if needed.
Schooner acknowledges the inherent risks of living in a region where wildlife encounters are common, noting the diverse range of animals present, including black bears, grizzlies, cougars, wolverines, and wolves.
According to the Conservation Officer Service, the aggressive nature of the bear’s actions during the attack was unprecedented, marking a unique and concerning incident in the history of grizzly bear encounters in British Columbia and Canada.