April 24, 2001 - Transcript of the Sault Ste. Marie's CHBX-TV News story on Métis Hunting Rights, the Powley case and negotiations with the provincial government.

April 24, 2001 - Transcript of Sudbury's CBCS-FM News coverage of MNO press conference.

February 23, 2001 - Top Ontario court upholds Métis Hunting Rights - CBC

January 10, 2001 - Métis hunting case before Ontario's top court

January 20th, 2000 - Court upholds Métis right to hunt

JANUARY 26, 2000 - Read President Tony Belcourt's featured Globe and Mail commentary

Powley Case
News - Articles I I I

SOURCE: Sault Ste. Marie
STATION: CHBX-TV
PROGRAM: EVENING EDITION
TIME: 18:03
DATE: 24 Apr 0

Métis Hunting Rights

MCNIECE: Métis hunting rights are front and centre once again. It dates back to 1993 when Steve Powley hunted a bull moose and was charged for hunting without a license. The case went to trial twice and both times the charges were dismissed but the province appealed both those decisions. In February of this year the Ontario Court of Appeal unanimously upheld the earlier decisions and said Powley has an aboriginal right to hunt as Mitis but as MCTV's Lucy Nersesian reports now the Court of Appeal made a request that has the Mitis Nation of Ontario and the leaders of First Nations join forces.

NERSESIAN: On February 23rd of this the Ontario Court of Appeal ruled Steve Powley has an aboriginal right to hunt as Mitis but the court also said the Ontario government should consult and negotiate with the Mitis community to create a regulatory system that fully recognizes and respects the Mitis right to hunt for food.

"TONY BELCOURT" MITIS NATION OF ONTARIO PRESIDENT: What is it that we want? We want in the regulatory scheme, the recognition that our people have the right to hunt and fish for food and that the allocation of any harvest in this province that priority must be given to the Mitis and First Nations.
NERSESIAN: And for the first time since this lengthy court battle began the Mitis have found an alliance with the Anishinabek Nation.

"VERNE ROOT" ANISHINABEK NATION: This picture has a covenant chain and this chain is an agreement between nations that have existed since in this case 1764.

"TONY BELCOURT": Verne Root and I certainly saw each other at various meetings and established a dialogue. I know that our people at the community level in various places have excellent working relationships between the Mitis Nation community and First Nations communities so it's a natural thing.

NERSESIAN: The Mitis may still be charged for hunting and fishing without a license until a new regulatory system is put into place. The deadline set by the Ontario Court of Appeal is February of 2002. Talks are yet to begin but the Mitis are eager to negotiate despite the province's decision to move the matter to the Supreme Court of Canada. Lucy Nersesian MCTV news Sault Ste. Marie.