Landmark Case: The Métis Hunting Rights Case – R. v. Powley

Each OJEN Landmark Case includes a case summary, classroom discussion questions and worksheets that encourage students to explore both the legal and societal importance of the case.

Mr. Powley argued that as a Métis person he should be afforded the same protections as other Aboriginal people under s. 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 to hunt for food.  The position of the Ontario government at that time was that Métis people did not have Aboriginal rights that exempted them from provincial hunting regulations.  The Supreme Court of Canada ruled in favour of Mr. Powley, establishing the existence of Métis hunting rights. The full decision is available here.