Powley Ruling
On October 22, 1993, father and son, Steve and Roddy Powley, killed a moose near Sault Ste Marie, Ontario. They tagged the animal with a Métis card and note which read: "harvesting my meat for winter." A week later they were charged with hunting moose without a license and unlawful possession of moose contrary to Ontario's Game and Fish Act. The case would eventually find its way to the Supreme Court of Canada, which unanimously ruled on September 19, 2003 the Powley's, as members of the Sault Ste Marie Métis community, can exercise a right to hunt that is protected by Section 35 of the Constitution Act.
Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 provides protection for the existing Aboriginal and Treaty rights of Canada's Aboriginal peoples:
(1) The existing aboriginal and treaty rights of the aboriginal peoples of Canada are hereby recognized and affirmed.
(2) In this Act, "aboriginal peoples of Canada" includes the Indian, Inuit and Metis peoples of Canada.
In essence, the Supreme Court confirmed the existence of the Inuit Metis in Labrador, and the constitutional protection of our existing Aboriginal rights.
Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 provides protection for the existing Aboriginal and Treaty rights of Canada's Aboriginal peoples:
(1) The existing aboriginal and treaty rights of the aboriginal peoples of Canada are hereby recognized and affirmed.
(2) In this Act, "aboriginal peoples of Canada" includes the Indian, Inuit and Metis peoples of Canada.
In essence, the Supreme Court confirmed the existence of the Inuit Metis in Labrador, and the constitutional protection of our existing Aboriginal rights.