Hunting rights extended to 'new Indians'

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New Indians - those reinstated under recent amendments to the Indian Act - have been extended full hunting rights by the provincial government.

Phillip Campiou, northern vice-president of the Native Council of Canada (Alberta), says "general list Indian people contacted the office to ask: Can we hunt on unoccupied crown land?"

Campiou says NCC (AB) checked with Ottawa who advised that this was a provincial mater, so NCC staff met with Alberta fish an d wildlife officials to discuss the issue.

In March, assistant deputy minister Dennis Surrendi informed NCC (AB) that to the provincial department, the question is relatively straightforward."

Said Surrendi: "The fish and wildlife division recognizes the right of status Indians to hunt and fish for food, at any time of the year, over unoccupied crown lands or any other lands to which they have right of access.

"A person who claims this right is responsible to provide proof of status to an officer when exercising it. This may be done by producing a letter from either the Department to Indian and Northern Affairs Canada or the band to which the person belongs verifying that the person is an Indian, or a "Certification of Indian Status" card issued by Indian and Northern affairs Canada.

"In view of the foregoing, any person who has regained Indian status, through Bill C-31, and had obtained one of the documents described above to provide proof of that, is entitled to exercise their rights to hunt and fish as a Status Indian.

"No license is required by a status Indian to hunt as wildlife management is a provincial responsibility. A licence to fish, however, is required by federal legislation. Indian domestic fishing licenses are issued at no charge."

Native Council of Canada (Alberta) board member Madge McRee said the organization, since its incorporation in 1984, has "done a lot of good things."