Powley Case
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Monday, September 22, 2003--Press Release
"We Won!" Métis Rights upheld by Supreme
Court, Interim President Poitras calls the decision "A
great victory for the Métis Nation"
OTTAWA, ON (September 19,2003) - In a landmark decision the
Supreme Court of Canada upheld the lower courts judgments
in the Métis harvesting rights case, R. v. Powley.
The Supreme Court recognized that the Aboriginal rights of
the Métis exist. Interim President and Spokesperson
for the Métis National Council, Audrey Poitras said,
"The highest court of this land has finally done what
Parliament and the provincial governments have refused to
do and have delivered justice to the Métis people."
In a press conference carried live across Canada Interim President
Poitras said, "To all the Métis people watching
I want to say two words: We won. We won!"
"This decision is a great victory for the Métis
Nation," said Poitras. The governments of Canada can
no longer refuse to negotiate with the Métis Nation
and treat us as though we don't have any Aboriginal rights.
Those days are over."
Clem Chartier, the Métis National Council's Minister
of Métis Rights and Self-Government said, "The
judgments are as positive as we could have hoped. With R .v.
Powley being an overwhelming victory and though R. v. Blais
was rejected by the court there is still language in the decision
that can be used to strengthen the Métis Nation."
R. v. Powley addressed whether the Métis community
at Sault Ste. Marie had an Aboriginal right to harvest protected
by s. 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982. "This case will
set the test that a Métis community must meet in order
to exercise their Aboriginal harvesting rights," said
Minister Chartier. "Although this judgment is focused
on Sault Ste. Marie, it is a victory for the whole Métis
Nation."
The Métis National Council and their legal counsel
will be analyzing the decisions in the days to come. "We
will further develop our strategies, related to these decisions,
and take the tool given to us today, to keep building and
strengthening the Métis Nation. Once again we urge
our people to continue to demonstrate patience and show respect
for the traditional Métis values of conservation and
public safety," said Interim President Poitras.
Miles Morrisseau
Director of Communications
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