THEBACHA/FORT SMITH - A conference on Metis hunting and harvesting rights is being planned in the South Slave.

Ken Hudson: Fort Smith Metis president believes indigenous Metis in South Slave have the right to hunt in Alberta. - NNSL file photo

The conference, which is tentatively set for sometime in October, is being organized by the Northwest Territory Metis Nation.

The discussion will centre on Metis rights to hunt in the NWT, Wood Buffalo National Park (WBNP) and particularly Alberta.

The proposal for the conference came from Ken Hudson, the president of the Fort Smith Metis Council.

Hudson said he got the idea after a Fort Smith Metis elder was stopped last year while hunting in northern Alberta, just outside of WBNP.

"It was just one of the things that was added to the pile of concerns that I've always had in relation to our rights," he said.

Hudson said the elder was told by an Alberta wildlife officer there are criteria that allow Metis to hunt in the province.

"The bottom line is you have to be residing in Alberta to be eligible," Hudson said.

The elder was never charged with hunting in Alberta, although he was given information about his hunting rights in that province.

"The fact that Smith is on the border of Alberta has always been a question of our hunting rights within Alberta," Hudson said. "We believe that we have rights."

The incident with the elder was also unusual in that he was hunting with a Treaty Indian, whose rights were not questioned by the wildlife officer.

However, Hudson said he believes Metis have the same rights as First Nations to hunt in Alberta.

Details of the upcoming conference are still being worked out, but representatives are expected to be invited from the GNWT, the federal and Alberta governments, and WBNP.

Hudson said Wood Buffalo National Park would be an issue because indigenous Metis of Fort Smith, Fort Resolution and Hay River recovered their rights to hunt in the park several years ago.

However, he said there has been an issue with Fort Smith Metis building a cabin in the park, even though he said courts have dictated people with rights to harvest have rights to build cabins.

The Fort Smith Metis Council had planned to resume construction of the cabin on July 28, but that was delayed by other work in Fort Smith. Hudson said construction of the cabin will resume this week.

The park has also been working on a new set of hunting regulations for three years, he said.

Hudson said Metis already have extensive rights to hunt in the NWT.

"We have rights far beyond the other provinces already," he said. "What we want to do is make sure those rights are maintained."

However, he said he has never liked the general hunting licence system.

"Why do we need the government to tell us that, 'Here's a licence to give you a right to hunt?'" he said. "My opinion is we have rights. Indigenous Metis have rights because we were here before effective government was set up. That's what gives you your rights."

Hudson said the conference will also be an opportunity to better define Metis hunting rights with the federal government.

A consultant has been hired and money identified to hold the conference.

Planning for the gathering will take place during a Northwest Territory Metis Nation board meeting set for Aug. 16 to 20 in Hay River.

Hudson said the hunting rights conference will likely be held in Hay River.