The Government of Alberta is conducting a review of the Métis Harvesting in Alberta policy. The purpose of this review is to ensure that the Policy is consistent with case law. The province is completing engagement sessions that will focus on how to balance Métis harvesting activities with the protection and conservation of wildlife resources in Alberta.
In 2003, the Supreme Court of Canada released a decision, in R. V. Powley, finding that a Métis collective in Sault Ste. Marie has an Aboriginal right to hunt for food and is protected under S. 35(1) of the Constitution Act, 1982. In that case, the Supreme Court set out the test to be applied to determine aboriginal rights to harvest. The Métis Harvesting in Alberta policy describes how the Government of Alberta seeks to identify those individuals who, in Alberta’s perspective, may have harvesting rights.
The policy review is not considering changes to eligibility requirements, and as such, will continue to require potential Métis harvesters to provide information related to self-identification and ancestral and contemporary connection to a historic and contemporary Métis community in Alberta.
For more information, please click here.
If you would like to share your perspectives on the Policy review in writing, please send your comments to GoA.MetisHarvesting@gov.ab.ca
For enquiries, please contact:
Tasha Blumenthal
Director, External Relations and Advocacy
tasha@RMAlberta.com
780.955.4094
Matt Dow
Policy Analyst
Matt@RMAlberta.com
780.955.4085