A trial set to begin next week in Meadow Lake, Sask. will address whether Métis people in the province have the right to hunt and fish for food freely. The case involves three Métis men, Oliver Poitras, Warren Boyer, and Harold St. Pierre, who face charges of unlawful hunting and fishing. Poitras and Boyer were convicted in 2018, but the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal (SKCA) granted their appeal in 2022, ordering a new trial. Harold St. Pierre was charged with hunting without a licence near Yorkton and will also be included in the trial.
While First Nations have rights to hunt and fish throughout Saskatchewan under section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, Métis rights are recognized only in specific areas, primarily in the north. Senior Defence Counsel Kathy Hodgson-Smith noted that there is a patchwork of Métis rights across western Canada, and this trial aims to determine if the Métis have section 35 rights in the spaces in between where their rights are recognized. The SKCA ruled that the defendants may pursue their constitutional rights if they can prove their affiliation with the historic Métis Nation, and evidence from within Saskatchewan and neighbouring provinces can be provided.
Co-defence counsel Clem Chartier has been involved in similar cases since the 1990s. He believes that winning cases like these will lead to more arrangements being made between Métis governments and provincial governments in terms of recognizing harvesting rights. Chartier sees this trial as significant not only for the people involved but also for the rest of the Métis Nation homeland. The trial is scheduled to take place from April 14 to May 2, with an adjournment for the preparation of expert evidence. It is expected to reconvene in the fall, although a specific date has not yet been set.
The trial in Meadow Lake, Sask. raises important questions about the hunting and fishing rights of Métis people in the province. With First Nations having established rights to hunt and fish under section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, the focus now turns to determining if Métis people have similar rights in areas where their rights are not explicitly recognized. The defendants in the case must prove their affiliation with the historic Métis Nation to pursue their constitutional rights, with evidence accepted from Saskatchewan and neighbouring provinces like Manitoba and Alberta.
The involvement of Senior Defence Counsel Kathy Hodgson-Smith and co-defence counsel Clem Chartier highlights the significance of this trial for the Métis people. Chartier, with his experience in similar cases dating back to the 1990s, sees this trial as a crucial step towards securing harvesting rights for the Métis Nation. Winning cases like these could lead to more partnerships between Métis governments and provincial governments in recognizing these rights. The outcome of this trial could have far-reaching implications for Métis people not only in Saskatchewan but also in the broader Métis Nation homeland.
As the trial unfolds in Meadow Lake, Sask., the focus will be on determining the rights of Métis people in the province to hunt and fish freely for food. The trial, scheduled to run from April 14 to May 2, will offer insights into how Métis rights are recognized in areas where their rights are not explicitly guaranteed. If the defendants can prove their affiliation with the historic Métis Nation, they may be able to pursue their constitutional rights, with evidence from Saskatchewan and neighbouring provinces being accepted. The outcome of this trial has the potential to shape future relationships between Métis governments and provincial governments regarding harvesting rights.
