During the 2024 PCMNO Election, harvesters asked the candidates if they supported harvesting mobility. As of now, MNO harvesters are restricted to harvesting in their traditional territories, which some say limits them as most Metis citizens do not live on their ancestral lands.

Harvesting is an important aspect of Metis culture, the ability to live off the land and feed our communities is an inherent right we have as Indigenous Peoples as laid out in R v. Powley. But with that comes a responsibility to the land to assure we are not taking more than we need. To assure harvesters are following harvesting protocols, the MNO has assigned each region a Captain of the Hunt.

Region 7’s Captain of the Hunt is Greg Garratt, who manages 50% of Metis harvesters in the province who call Region 7 home. Although that may seem like a big number, Garratt tells us less than 1% of harvesters in Ontario are Metis, and most harvesters in the area are non-Indigenous recreational hunters, which make up 30% of the province.

Although most Metis harvesters harvest for food and community benefit, Garratt suggest that harvesting mobility be tested before committing to policy changes. “I've always suggested a three to five year term, very limited as to who can have that mobility,” says Garratt. “Checkmarks put in place, like does the person have property there.”

Harvesting mobility goes beyond the MNO, negotiations would have to be done with the Ontario government.

To learn more about harvesting in Region 7, you can reach out to Greg Garratt at 705-549-2255.