Powley Case
Voyageur Articles
September/October, 2003
“Friday September 19th. The Supreme Court of Canada.
...The day on which the Judgment would be rendered on what
has come to be known as ‘the Powley Case’.”
“Item 53: ‘Members of the Métis community
in and around Sault Ste. Marie have an Aboriginal right to
hunt for food under s.35(1),’ and then item 54: ‘The
appeal is dismissed with costs to the respondents....’”
“Amidst the tears, the hugs and the shouts of jubilation,
I was able to find Steve, Jean and Tony happily explaining
some of the ramifications of this joyous judgment, not only
for the Métis of Ontario but for the 300,000, or more,
Métis across Canada, to an eager and non-confrontational
press.
“The day was not over. It was only ten in the morning.
It was literally and figuratively the beginning of a NEW day.
Following the hubbub in the lobby of the Supreme Court, a
formal press conference was conducted in the Centre Block
on Parliament Hill. At noon we gathered in an Ottawa hotel
to witness some of the media reaction across Canada. How often
has a Métis news item been the lead story on CBC TV
news?
“Then, in the evening, in the same hotel, the fiddles
came out and the jigging started. The party was on!” |
