Métis Harvester Magazine

08/20/2024

📣 Calling all 📣

Starting August 26, 2024, we will be opening applications for the Duck and Porcupine Mountains (GHAs 13, 13A, 18, 18A, 18B, 18C) for the limited harvest of bull moose through the annual Moose Conservation Harvesting Initiative!

Applications will close on September 9th, and will be followed by a lottery-style draw. All Harvesters must be registered as part of a Harvesting Party of 4 to 6 participants, and each Red River Métis Harvester must have a valid MMF Métis Harvester Card with the 2024-2025 CTF Sticker. Harvesting for these areas will begin on September 12, 2024.

Stay tuned for the application going LIVE at www.mmf.mb.ca on August 26, 2024.

08/04/2024

Do you have questions about harvesting and your rights as an Otipemisiwak Métis Government Citizen?

Join us virtually August 21 at 6 p.m. MST to learn about harvesting from Otipemisiwak Métis Government Harvesting Manager, Craig Letendre!

Harvesting refers to hunting, trapping, fishing, and gathering and has been, and continues to be, an integral part of Métis culture and way of life.

Listen in as we discuss:
• Harvesting rights
• Harvesting areas
• How to get a harvesting card
• And answer your questions!

If you have any questions, please reach out to [email protected].

To register: albertametis.com/Speaker-Spotlight-Harvesting

08/03/2024

08/02/2024

Please, always harvest responsibly.

August 1, 2024

Honorable Minister Jamie Moses,

Manitoba Lodges & Outfitters Association (MLOA) has been staying abreast of the Manitoba Metis Federation’s (MMF) demands for a significant expansion to the Métis Natural Resource Harvesting Zone (MNRHZ), to which the province is considering expanding to an additional 6 game hunting areas. Following a June media release, MLOA also became aware that the province had instructed Conservation Officers to cease enforcement of the provincial hunting and angling restrictions in the zones being considered for expansion. In addition to these concerns, the MMF addressed a letter in June 2023 to “Manitoba residents and non-residents who are or wish to become Red River Metis Harvesters” advising that the MNRHZ includes Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, parts of the Northwest Territories, Ontario, and the United States. The MMF has also publicly declared a moose hunt within conservation closure areas.

Honorable Minister, these concerns all pose significant threats to our fish and game populations. Metis citizens are not required to report their harvest. Licensed resident hunters just saw a 75% reduction in moose draw success. Considering an unregulated MNRHZ expansion in conjunction with directions to cease any enforcement of the hunting and angling laws, including harvest limits, is completely counterproductive to conservation management.

User groups across the province can submit resolutions annually to the province to be considered for regulation changes. Ignoring this due process and suggesting that enforcement be ceased based on a consideration of suggested changes are dangerous precedents to set. Conservation and the sustainability of our game and fish must come first and that includes regulation process changes and enforcement of applicable laws.

The MLOA urges the province to invite all user groups and stakeholders to engage on the shared management of our Natural Resources. Conservation and protection of our resources should always be the number one concern.

Sincerely,

Melanie MacCarthy
President
Manitoba Lodges & Outfitters Association

cc:
The Honourable Premier Wab Kinew
Honourable Deputy Minister Dana Rudy
Honorable Minister Ian Bushie
Honorable Deputy Minister Bruce Gray
Honorable Ron Kostyshyn
Honorable Deputy Minister Brenda DeSerranno

07/21/2024

https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/manitoba-metis-president-ticketed-for-fishing-without-a-licence-province-says-1.6970811?__vfz=medium%3Dsharebar

A recent interaction between a conservation officer and David Chartrand, president of the Manitoba Metis Federation, appears set to become the latest skirmish in the battle over Indigenous hunting and fishing rights in the province.

07/18/2024

Citizens from the Interlake Region are invited to join an experienced commercial fisher to learn about fishing and a traditional method for repairing and maintaining nets at the St. Laurent Parish on July 24, 2024.

To book your spot or for more information, reach out to [email protected]! Space is limited, please secure your spot by July 22.

07/18/2024

Exciting news for !

Your Red River Métis Government will begin accepting applications for the opportunity to Harvest on Métis Lands in the Northwest and Southwest regions of Manitoba starting July 22nd, 2024.

Each successfully drawn Harvesting Party will be provided access to their property of choice for 7 days. Don’t miss this limited opportunity! Stay tuned for the application going LIVE at mmf.mb.ca.

Locations:
Minitonas Land (GHA 18A, 160 acres)
Swan River Land (GHA 18A160 acres)
Turtle Mountain Land (GHA 29, 120 acres)

06/29/2024

Happy Fishing Week!

Whether you're an experienced angler or picking up a rod for the first time, get hooked on our content as we provide Citizens with the tools to exercise their harvesting rights! 🎣

06/22/2024

Happy Indigenous Peoples Day to all Métis harvesters and those we harvest for.

06/18/2024

Our Elders have fought fiercely to keep the tradition of harvesting from the land, passing their knowledge down to their children and grandchildren. This , we want to remind Citizens that harvesting is about the love of family and community, and preserving a connection with our Homeland, history, and culture, to honour the ways of our Ancestors.

Visithttps://www.mmf.mb.ca/wcm-docs/docs/harvesters/metis-laws-of-the-harvest.pdf to learn more about our .

Harvesters can also contact [email protected] for questions concerning harvesting, or [email protected] for assistance with gaining Harvester cards, CTF tags and more.

06/06/2024

What does Métis knowledge tell us about fish health?

Join us virtually June 10 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. MST for our upcoming Speaker Spotlight as we introduce you to the new Otipemisiwak Métis Government’s “Fish Health Guide: Ann Paar Kord di Pwason (Sharing the Fishing Line).” You will also get the chance to listen to knowledgeable and passionate Métis harvesters, Kirsten Letendre and Keith Grant, both of which were involved in the development of this guide.

They will shed light on fishing, fish health, and environmental stewardship using a Métis lens. Métis Citizens who attend this session have a chance to receive 1 of 50 guidebooks! After the session, the guidebook can be found at the Otipemisiwak Métis Government Provincial Office in Edmonton while copies are available.

If you have any questions, please reach out to [email protected]

To register: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/ecc-speaker-spotlight-sharing-the-fishing-line-tickets-911489548777?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

06/06/2024

June is National Indigenous History Month! Throughout the month of June, we will be sharing snapshots of Metis history and Culture!

The Métis Bison Hunts

From the 1810s until the 1870s, bison were a main source of survival and income for the Métis. Bison is rich in lean protein and eating it ensured that people were strong and healthy. Bison meat, most often made into pemmican, was used for food and for trade. Bison hides were also used for shelter and clothing, while bones were made into tools and sinew was used for sewing. The Métis recognized that the animals were a finite resource that had to be protected. In 1840, they codified the protection of this invaluable resource through rules referred to as the “Laws of the Hunt.” In Michif, plains bison (Bison bison bison) are called “li buffloo.”

05/23/2024

Today marks World Turtle Day! All eight of Canada's freshwater turtle species are listed as species at risk—and while saving species at risk may seem like a daunting task, below we're sharing a few real ways you can help support these treasured wetland creatures. 🐢

05/17/2024

05/17/2024

As we continue to honour Métis women this month, let's reflect on the many roles of Métis women in the 1800s. Our Nation's strength hinges greatly on the contributions of Métis women.

In the 1800s, Métis women played many roles within their communities, embodying strength and resilience. As wives and mothers, they often managed households, raised children, and supported their families' economic activities, such as fur trapping and trading. Additionally, Métis women were integral to cultural preservation, passing down traditions through oral history, storytelling, and craftsmanship, including beadwork and embroidery. Despite facing challenges due to colonialism and patriarchal structures, Métis women were active participants in community life, contributing to social cohesion, survival, and the preservation of Métis identity and culture.

Photo Source: University of Calgary Archive

05/15/2024

With Mother's Day this month, we want to pay special tribute to Métis women by chronicling their roles throughout the centuries. Our Nation's strength hinges greatly on the contributions of Métis women.

Women of the Fur Trade - 1700s:
As skilled intermediaries between Indigenous cultures and European traders, Métis women facilitated economic exchanges and diplomatic relations. They often served as interpreters, negotiators, and mediators, bridging linguistic and cultural gaps. Additionally, they played essential roles in domestic tasks, such as preparing food, tanning hides, and crafting clothing, which were crucial for sustaining the fur trade economy. Their adaptability and resourcefulness were fundamental to the survival and prosperity of fur trade communities, making them indispensable figures in the evolution of the Métis Nation.

Source: Women and the Fur Trade | The Canadian Encyclopedia

Photo Source: "The Trapper's Bride," Alfred Jacob Miller

05/13/2024

Are you looking for a new place to explore, connect with nature, or engage in land use activities?

If so, our online tool is for you!
The Conservation Land Access Dashboard (CLAD) allows users to easily identify sites that permit activities such as camping, traditional plant gathering, hunting, fishing, ATV, and horseback riding.

Please note CLAD is a tool designed to help you identify conservation lands you can access. While it provides you with summaries for each conservation site, it is not the primary source of information. It is advised to confirm CLAD information is correct with managing organizations for sites of interest before engaging in land-use activities.

Discover over 1,000 conservation lands near you. Go to https://albertametis.com/CLAD to start here and plan your next adventure today!

05/09/2024

Glacier FarmMedia – Canadian wild pigs are furtive and rugged, and its uncertain how many of them roam across Western Canada. Understanding and

04/23/2024

There's no time to paws – Citizens can help to protect and recover species at risk across our Homeland by completing our survey!

Visit https://arcg.is/1XTn1u1 to complete our Species at Risk survey, or contact [email protected] for more information.

04/23/2024

Without a healthy, sustainable environment, it's impossible to exercise our rights or continue many of our traditional, social and economic practices. As stewards of the land, water and air, hold Traditional Knowledge about conservation beneficial for all. That's why input from Citizens is the main factor in our conservation methods.

Visit https://www.mmf.mb.ca/environment-climate-change to learn how you can participate in our climate action programs and work together to protect our environment. Happy ! 🌎

04/15/2024

Today begins National Wildlife Week. To kick off this week, let’s pay homage to the bison, which played an important role in Métis daily life. From 1810-1870, the plains bison was a symbol of survival and prosperity. The Métis’ deep connection to nature was woven into every aspect of their life.

The Métis utilized every part of the bison, embodying the spirit and harmony with the land. Hides were used for clothing and blankets while embracing warmth and tradition. Skins were crafted into bags and ropes, carrying stories of resourcefulness. Bones transformed into knives and tools, a testament to their ingenuity. Horns evolved into spoons and ladles to create delicious traditional recipes. The meat, serving as valuable trade and sustenance, nurtured both physical well-being and social connections within the community. The Métis harmonized with the changing seasons, engaging in bison hunts twice a year.

Image: White Bison at the Visions, Hopes and Dreams Wildlife Park. Source: Métis Crossing

04/14/2024

As harvesters, we need to look at our impact on the environment. Efforts to maintain the natural balance means more sustainable harvests for all Métis harvesters. Please always harvest responsibly.

Your knows that conservation and good stewardship of our Homeland are key to our identity, and an important part of what our Ancestors fought to preserve.

“Those who live in rural and remote areas are the ones most vulnerable to the effects of the changing climate, and they are often the first to see them,” said President Chartrand. “Living outside of harmony with our environment will continue to push nature toward a sharp rebalance. As we know, when nature steps in to rebalance the ecosystem, it is vicious”

Visit https://www.mmf.mb.ca/presidents-message/presidents-message-april-11-2024 to read more from President Chartrand discussing the role that play in protecting our Homeland from climate change in the latest issue of .

04/13/2024

The Métis often refer to the plains bison as buffalo. In Southern Michif, they are called "lii bufloo."* However, bison and buffalo are two distinct species and buffalo are found in Asia and Africa whereas Bison are found in North America and Europe.

The buffalo hunt was important to the development of Métis culture and the Métis Nation. The plains bison were also integral to the buffalo hunt. Large-scale buffalo hunting in the 1800s contributed significantly to the economic growth of what is now Canada. The buffalo hunt provided sustenance and livelihood for the Métis and created trade routes throughout the plains.

Have you seen a buffalo or bison before?

*Southern/Heritage Michif as written by Elder Norman Fleury of St. Lazare, Manitoba.

04/01/2024

Hey Harvesters, get your Conservation Trust Fund (CTF) sticker! Visit https://www.mmf.mb.ca/ctf-tags to get your CTF sticker and big game tags online from the comfort and safety of your home, or through your Regional Office.

Visit https://www.mmf.mb.ca/ctf-tags for more information. Contact [email protected] should you have any questions or concerns regarding our online CTF and big game tag system.

03/12/2024

Help protect the health of our lands, waters, and natural resources for future generations! Citizen Scientists can participate in wetland monitoring activities across our National Homeland, including breeding amphibians, wetland birds and benthic invertebrates, and conducting surveys on wetland health.

Contact [email protected] for more information and to get involved.