Advocating for protected and respected Indigenous hunting rights

The Anishinabek Nation is calling on Ottawa for respectful and flexible firearms regulations to support Indigenous hunting rights.

“As the federal government continues to implement firearms regulations, we are advocating for policies that recognize and accommodate First Nation practices,” says Grand Council Chief Linda Debassige. “We need to ensure that they are protected and respected, including the statement by the Supreme Court of Canada in the R. v. Sparrow decision that Aboriginal people are entitled to use their ‘preferred means of exercising their rights’.”

Debassige says they’re pleased that recent firearms regulations have included some important exemptions, including alternative means for safety certification, including Elders and others with sufficient knowledge of safety and the law.

However, the Anishinabek Nation urges federal and provincial regulators to:

• Continue to recognize and respect First Nation hunting rights and their preferred means of exercising them in their use of all classes of firearms purchased prior to the change in regulations.
• Understand that increased industrialization and commercialization of our territories means that First Nations must become more efficient in exercising their rights, including utilizing different models of firearms.
• Provide clear exemptions and allowances for First Nations protected Section 35 rights.
• Ensure licensing requirements are flexible for First Nations hunters, respecting their sovereignty and traditional ways, and the impact on loss of culture, including the cultural practice of harvesting.

“Our communities remain dedicated to responsible firearm use, and we seek partnerships with government agencies to ensure our traditional practices are preserved and supported with regulation that is respectful of First Nation Section 35 rights,” says Debassige.

Richard Coffin has been a reporter and news anchor on the radio in North Bay for over 25 years.  From premiers to people in the neighbourhood, he enjoys connecting with newsmakers and writing stories that matter to area listeners on a variety of topics including healthcare, education, politics, sports and more.