Metis Hunting Rights Information

Both the Supreme Court of Canada and the Manitoba Court have affirmed the legal rights of the Metis to hunt.
In order to provide additional information on these legal precedents, Manitoba Wildlife Federation has
prepared this information circular.
BACKGROUND
In 1993, near Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, a Metis father and son (the Powley family) killed a moose and were
charged with hunting out of season. They pleaded not guilty by virtue of their Aboriginal rights and were
acquitted by the Ontario Court.
The Province of Ontario appealed the case all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada. In 2003, the Supreme
Court upheld the decisions of the Lower Courts and unanimously agreed that the Powleys had an Aboriginal
right to hunt. This ruling by the Supreme Court of Canada established a legal precedent for other court
decisions to come.
In 2004, Will Goodon, a Metis from the Turtle Mountain area in Manitoba, shot and killed a duck. After he
informed a Conservation Officer that he had in his possession a duck which he had harvested under the
authority of his Metis Harvester card, he was charged with unlawful possession of wildlife. In 2009, the
Manitoba Court dismissed the charge and confirmed Mr. Goodons Metis right to hunt for food.
In 2005, the Manitoba Metis Federation asked Manitoba Wildlife Federation (MWF) for support and
endorsement of their Metis Harvesting Initiative. MWF met with them to learn more about the Harvesting
Initiative and were impressed with the sound conservation principles that they applied:
A system with an annual harvester fee that is allocated to a conservation fund.
Seasons, tags, bag limits and harvest reporting requirements.
Details are contained in a guide entitled The Metis Laws of the Harvest, and additional information is
available from the following sources:
Metis Laws of the Harvest - Guide to Metis Hunting, Fishing, Trapping and Gathering
http://mmf.mb.ca/images/pdf/Metis%20Laws%20of%20the%20Harvest%20Web.pdf
Metis Harvesting Rights
http://mmf.mb.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=192&Itemid=174
Manitoba Metis Federation Telephone (204) 586-8474


At that time, it was MWFs position that since the Province of Manitoba already had these controls in effect
under The Wildlife Act, we did not see a need to endorse the Metis system. MWF also felt that management
and enforcement would be more difficult with another set of regulations. Subsequently, at that point in time,
we agreed to disagree. However, we also agreed to maintain contact and work together on mutually beneficial
conservation issues for the benefit of Manitobas wildlife resources.
In 2009, after the Manitoba Court affirmed the Metis hunting rights under the Goodon decision, there was
some confusion regarding the specifics of the Metis right to hunt for food. MWF felt it was necessary to meet
with the Manitoba Metis Federation and discuss how we could work together to ensure that members of both
our organizations would uphold responsibilities to ensure sustainable use of Manitobas wildlife resources. As
we both believed that a prudent approach would be to work together in the spirit of responsible conservation,
MWF signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with Manitoba Metis Federation in 2009.

PROVINCE PARTNERS WITH MANITOBA METIS FEDERATION TO UPHOLD MTIS HARVESTING RIGHTS
On September 29, 2012, the Province of Manitoba and the Manitoba Metis Federation agreed to legally
recognize Metis Natural Resource Harvesting rights in part of Manitoba, through the development of new
regulations in the coming months. Additional information is available from the following sources:
Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship Metis Harvesting Rights
http://www.gov.mb.ca/conservation/resource_harvesting.html
Province of Manitoba Telephone 1-866-Manitoba

SUMMARY
Manitoba Wildlife Federation was not involved in the negotiations which took place between the Province and
the Manitoba Metis Federation. However, we endorse the commitment to responsible hunting practices made
by the Manitoba Metis Federation.
Ensuring and promoting responsible hunting and sustaining wildlife populations now and for future
generations are two of the key pillars of Manitoba Wildlife Federation. The Manitoba Wildlife Federation
respects hunters, from all walks of life, who take wildlife resource management seriously and act responsibly.




October, 2012