Letter to Citizens: Stayed Charges

November 12, 2024

Dear Red River Métis Harvesters,

As Red River Métis Harvesters, we are conservationists at heart, recognizing that we must prioritize conservation, sustainability, and wildlife management. We understand that with rights come responsibilities-a responsibility to protect the environment, be stewards of the land, and adhere to our Métis Laws of the Harvest. We are committed to doing our part in conservation, helping increase sustainability, and ensuring that our future generations, our children's children, can continue to harvest and practice their traditional ways.

Our Métis Laws of the Harvest not only reflect a deep respect for the land, waters, and its resources but also embody traditional knowledge that has been passed down through generations. Our laws are essential for sustaining the livelihoods and traditional practices of our Nation, ensuring that all Harvesting is done in a commoncommonsense way that honours our relationship with the land, waters, and resources across our National Homeland, as well as our Red River Métis values and traditions.

For decades, your Red River Métis government has been committed to fighting for Red River Métis rights, advocating for the recognition and affirmation of our traditional harvesting practices under Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 within Manitoba. While we continue to build a new constructive relationship with the Manitoba government, we have taken proactive steps to support and defend Harvesters who have been unjustly charged, and we have established legal resources to assist and defend Harvesters. Please be reminded that you must have your MMF Harvester Card, the CTF sticker for the current year, the appropriate tags and be following the Red River Métis Laws of the Harvest to be represented by the MMF.

Through these efforts, we were recently given notice that the Manitoba government has stayed all MMF-supported Harvesting charges laid against Red River Métis Harvesters in MMF Expansion Areas (GHAs 5, 7, 7A, 26, 17A), as well as moose Harvesting charges laid against Harvesters under the MMF's Moose Conservation Harvesting Initiative (GHAs 13, 13A, 18, 18A, 18B, 18C). The decision to stay these charges is a significant recognition and affirmation of Red River Métis rights in Manitoba and marks a step forward in our mutual commitment to honouring rights with conservation and the sustainability of wildlife population in mind.

On behalf of the Manitoba Métis Federation and the Red River Métis, I want to acknowledge the Manitoba government for its commitment to recognizing and respecting Red River Métis rights in Manitoba. We commend their effort to work government-to-government, nation-to-nation to ensure justice and fair treatment of Red River Métis Harvesters. There is still much work to be done but I am confident that we are on the right path and that our rights will continue to be respected by Manitoba as we move forward. While this decision marks a significant step forward in the advancement of Red River Métis rights in Manitoba, your Red River Métis Government will continue to fight for our rights, build on our new relationship with the Manitoba government, and ensure Red River Métis rights are upheld and respected.

Maarsii,

Peter Fleming

A/Minister of Natural Resources

Manitoba Métis Federation-National Government of the Red River Métis

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