Harvesting is a proud and age-old Métis tradition extending back to the fur trade. It contributes greatly to Métis recognition, as perhaps best illustrated in the Powley legal case that argued Métis hunting rights were enshrined in section 35 of the Constitution Act. In a huge victory, the Supreme Court ruled the Powleys were exercising lawful Métis hunting rights.
Though he has little interest in politics, Craig Letendre is a prime authority on harvesting, and responsible for overseeing the portfolio for the Otipemisiwak Métis Government. In this episode, Craig traces his interest in harvesting to the lessons his grandparents gave him when he was growing up in Lac Ste. Anne, Alberta. Today, Craig helps Métis hunters and fishers across the province understand their Indigenous rights and runs a series of increasingly popular fishing camps. As he tells host David Wylynko, the Métis approach to managing wildlife resources isn’t about hard quotas, but what it takes to feed a family. He also provides a few tips on how to snare rabbits and when not to hunt for moose.
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