Finding solutions

Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 21/09/2024 (387 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It was with great disappointment that I read Will Goodon’s opinion piece in the Sept. 14 edition of the Free Press, responding to an opinion piece written by Deveryn Ross.

I will not rise to the offensive language and approach taken by Mr. Goodon, referring to the Manitoba Wildlife Federation as “puppet masters,” our board as “villains” in a “Scooby Doo episode” and Deveryn Ross as an “unwitting ladle.” We were surprised to see that kind of derogatory language published.

I am writing to clarify any misconceptions, with the hope of shifting the narrative and encouraging more respectful dialogue on this important subject.

The Manitoba Wildlife Federation (MWF) has said this before, but I respectfully say it again. The MWF acknowledges and respects the importance of the Indigenous rights recognized and affirmed in section 35 of our constitution. The intent of our advocacy in this area is not to create animosity and division between the people of Manitoba.

MWF has never suggested that Métis rights were “given” by the state, nor do we suggest that there is a hierarchy of such rights that places those of the Métis below those of other Indigenous communities.

We are suggesting that Manitoba needs an approach to management that will ensure the preservation of our wildlife resources come first, all while nurturing our rights and shared hunting and angling traditions.

Our objective is to foster meaningful conversations on how we can sustainably manage our resources in Manitoba, through a co-operative approach that will ensure sustainable practices that benefit everyone — that is all Manitobans.

With respect to the potential expansion of the Métis Natural Resource Harvest Zone northwards to include areas such as Cranberry Portage (just southeast of Flin Flon), we say that that there is an important distinction between those rights that have been established (such as those Mr. Goodon established in his court case) and those that are asserted.

At present, the Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF) is asserting rights to additional areas in northern Manitoba, which is of course its prerogative, but these rights are not yet established (in the sense that they have not yet been proven in court nor recognized by the government). The existence and scope of these rights remains to be determined.

In the meantime, the Wildlife Federation naturally has questions as to how the government will approach this issue, and whether in doing so it will balance the rights and interests of all Manitobans and uphold its fundamental responsibility to conserve fish and wildlife resources while ensuring public safety.

We are compelled to ask the questions as to why the government chose to stay the charges against MMF’s president for fishing in the Cranberry Portage area without a provincial licence, if the current government is intending to expand the Métis harvesting zone in that area, and why the current government instructed conservation officers not to enforce the laws pertaining to Métis people in the North.

These are all valid questions that directly impact Manitoba residents.

Mr. Goodon suggests that the laws of the MMF are stricter than provincial regulations. The Wildlife Federation does not agree.

We are also uncertain about how these laws are enforced, and we are not aware of any public information about the scope of harvesting by Métis hunters across the province.

Mr. Goodon is right that the Manitoba Wildlife Federation has launched a campaign. But it is not a campaign against the Red River Métis people, but rather a campaign to unite all Manitobans in thoughtful and respectful discussion about how to manage our shared natural resources in a sustainable manner that is fair to all stakeholders.

We are advocating for a natural resources management regime wherein science determines sustainable harvest, harvest is allocated through discussions with Indigenous and licensed hunters and all Manitobans share in reporting their harvest to the province to ensure wildlife populations will be conserved for future generations to enjoy.

We need the government to lead this approach, and recognize all parties invested in this process, regardless of whether we are Métis, First Nations, licensed hunters or outfitters; we share the same passions and we are all deeply invested.

I don’t believe MWFs approach is that of a villain. I think it is a proactive and inclusive approach to conservation that many thought leaders, from all corners of the province, regardless of their rights or race, can support and stand behind knowing it is the best outcome for fish and wildlife, and one that promotes inclusivity instead of division.

We encourage and welcome Mr. Goodon to participate in this approach and to change the narrative with us.

Carly Deacon is managing director of the Manitoba Wildlife Federation.