Metis Leader Lauds Discussion On Harvesting Rights

Metis Leader Lauds Discussion On Harvesting Rights

Tuesday, September 22, 2009 at 14:22

 

 

The president of the Metis National Council says Saskatchewan is in a fairly good position once the government recognizes Metis harvesting rights.

 

Clem Chartier is at the Metis Nation – Saskatchewan’s fisheries management roundtable this week in Saskatoon,

where Metis are discussing what they think of the province’s draft fisheries management plan.

 

Chartier says the Metis living in northern Saskatchewan are likely faring the best out of any Metis territory.

 

He says the battle for harvesting rights recognition is progressing, but not without a financial and personal cost to people.

 

Chartier says that just last week, a Metis man who had been charged in Alberta entered a guilty plea to get it over with, feeling that he and his family had suffered enough hostility from people outside the Metis community.

 

“It is hard on people, and it would be good if they would recognize that the rights are there, because if it takes us another 10 or 20 years, we’re going to consider establishing our rights,” he says.

 

Chartier says a good management model would be legislation the MN-S passed in 1994, known as the wildlife and conservation act and regulations.

 

He says the legislation still exists, but there just isn’t the recognition or the capacity to implement it.