Harvesting Policy
FAQ

What is the MNO/MNR Interim Agreement on Harvesting?
Flowing from the Supreme Court of Canada's decision in Powley, the MNO and the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) made an agreement that recognizes the MNO's Harvester's Certificate (Card) system. The agreement, at this point, is very short and is set out in four points which are included in this insert. The essence of the agreement is that MNR will apply its Interim Enforcement Policy to each MNO Harvester's Certificate holder who is harvesting for food within his or her traditional territory. This means that MNO Harvester's Certificate holders will not be charged unless they are in violation of conservation or safety standards.

Why did the MNO agree to this arrangement with the MNR?
For years, what the MNO has continuously heard from its harvesters is that they wanted to harvest without fear of harassment, screening or prosecution by the MNR. Since 1995, the MNO has worked on developing a responsible and Métis-driven harvest management system that would allow its harvesters to do just that. In the past, the challenge had been the lack of recognition of the MNO's system by the MNR. Now, with this MNO/MNR agreement, the MNO's Harvester's Certificate system will be used as a means of identifying legitimate Métis harvesters in the field. Further, if MNO harvesters are harvesting within the MNO's Harvesting Policy and respecting the conservation and safety requirements set out in the MNR's Interim Enforcement Policy, they will not be screened or charged. With this arrangement, the MNO has achieved the goal of Métis harvesters no longer having to "skulk through the forest like criminals" when they are exercising their constitutionally protected rights.

Do I only have a right to hunt if I have a MNO Harvesters Certificate?
No. Harvester's Certificates do not 'grant' or 'give' MNO citizens their harvesting rights. Your Métis right to hunt flows from being a member of an historic Métis community. All the MNO Harvester's Certificate provides is an administrative means for the MNR to identify legitimate Métis rights' holders in the field - similar to how the MNR uses Indian Status Cards as a means of identifying First Nation harvesters. These 'cards' just provide a means to allow others (i.e. MNR) to identify legitimate Aboriginal rights-holders.

Is the agreement to issue only 1250 MNO Harvester's Cards for the 2004 Harvest a 'cap' or 'limit' on the number of Métis citizens who have the right to hunt?
No. Since the MNO began to issue Harvester's Certificates in 1995, only slightly more than 1000 valid MNO Harvester's Certificates have been issued. Based on this historic reality, for this upcoming year, the MNO is confident that 1250 will be more than enough to meet the historic demands of MNO citizens. In addition, the MNO/MNR agreement provides for the development of a "mutually agreeable process" to increase this number in the future.

Are MNO Harvester's Certificates just MNR 'tags'?
No. MNO Harvester's Certificates are a means for the MNR to identify legitimate Métis rights-holders in the field. MNO Harvester's Certificates are not species specific, do not have extensively limited seasons imposed on harvesting, and are not obtained through a lottery system. The only limitations on MNO Harvester's Certificate holders are those developed and agreed to by the Métis Nation itself - as set out in the MNO's Harvesters' Policy.

Now that the MNO has an agreement with the MNR, can I harvest without any restrictions?
No. In order to be covered by the Interim MNO/MNR Harvesting Agreement (i.e. no screening and no charges) you must be harvesting within the MNO's Harvesters' Policy (i.e. have a valid Harvester's Certificate, respecting conservation and safety requirements; harvesting within your traditional territory; harvesting for food - not commercial, etc.) and the safety and conservation provisions of the MNR's Interim Enforcement Policy. If you plan to harvest this fall, please familiarize yourself with the MNO's Harvesting Policy (provided in this insert). If you have questions please contact your Captain of the Hunt or the MNO.

Finally, it should also be noted that if you are not harvesting within the MNO's Harvesting Policy and the IEP's safety and conservation provision you may be screened and charged. Further, the MNO will not be under an obligation to support or represent those harvesters who provide false information on their Harvester's Certificate applications or fail to respect and uphold their obligations under the MNO's Harvesters' Policy.

What is my 'Traditional Harvesting Territory'?
At present, the boundaries and details of the traditional harvesting territories of Métis communities within Ontario are not fully determined. However, based on information gathered by the MNO from community consultations, the Registry, and some available research, the MNO has developed an interim "Traditional Harvesting Territories" map on which the issuance of 2004 MNO Harvester's Certificates will be based. A copy of this map has been provided in this insert and is also available from the MNO, your Captain of the Hunt or at www.metisnation.org. It must be noted that this is an interim map to be used for the time being pending the results of future research and negotiations with the MNR.

Why is there a $30 application and renewal fee for a two-year MNO Harvester's Certificate?
This fee will go directly to the MNO's Legal Defence Fund and will be used to offset the extensive legal costs involved in fully-funding the Powley case over the last decade, as well as supporting on-going legal costs in the Métis Nation's pursuit of its rights-based agenda.