To date, the Métis Nation has succeeded in bringing three cases forward to the Supreme Court. They are Daniels v. Canada (2016), R vs Powley (2003) and The Manitoba Métis Federation vs. Canada (2013). Please read more about these cases via the links below:

Supreme Court of Canada Reasons for Judgment

This Powley Summary was written and prepared by Jean Teillet. Ms. Teillet is an Aboriginal rights lawyer with the law firm of Pape & Salter. She is also the great grand niece of Louis Riel. Jean Teillet was legal counsel for the Powleys at all levels of court. Co-counsel at trial was Clayton Ruby. Co-counsel at the Ontario Court of Appeal and at the Supreme Court of Canada was Arthur Pape.

What the court said, in brief:

In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court of Canada confirmed the constitutional protection for the harvesting rights of the Métis.

The Court set out a general test for determining Métis rights within s. 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982. In this decision the Court applied that test to the Sault Ste Marie Métis community and to the Powleys. However, this does not mean that the case is limited in its application only to the Sault Ste Marie Métis community. The test applies to Métis communities across Canada.

The Court said that the Métis were included as one of the “aboriginal peoples of Canada” in s. 35 to recognize them, to value distinctive Métis cultures, and to enhance their survival.

The Court also spoke about the urgent need to develop more systematic methods to identify Métis rights-holders. In answer to government claims about the identification problems, the Court said that it was not an insurmountable problem and that the difficulties must not be exaggerated in order to defeat Métis claims.

To view the entire Supreme Court Summary (pdf), click here.