Manitoba Metis Federation members have voted to ban spotlighting. This does not include Night hunting, which will still be allowed, in remote and northern areas of Manitoba.
The MMF defines spotlighting as "chasing animals in motorized vehicles, including trucks, snowmobiles, ATVs, boats, etc. with artificial lighting."
A bright light is shone into the eyes of animals such as moose, elk and deer, causing the prey to stand still and therefore making it easier for them to be killed.
Spotlighting is illegal in many provinces, but legal for Indigenous people in Manitoba.
MMF president David Chartrand said the organization began consulting with Metis Manitobans about ending the practice because of saftey concerns, as well as racism towords the hunters. Spotlighting became a flashpoint of controversy after reports of spotlighting near farms.
MMF delegates voted to continue to allow night hunting — and even the use of artificial lights — under some circumstances.
The province will meet to create a map with precise definitions of where night hunting will and will not be allowed. He said the Duck Mountains and Porcupine Mountains are also possibilities.
First Nations Canadians have a right to hunt for food at night, a right protected by the Constitution Act of 1982, provided it is done safely and under certain conditions — such as on reserves, unoccupied Crown land or private land with permission.
In 2012, Manitoba and the Manitoba Metis Federation negotiated a harvesting agreement that further defined Metis' hunting rights.
The text of the resolution prohibiting night-hunting in southern Manitoba states, "this direction does not extinguish or give up the Metis right to harvest at night in any way; it simply puts Metis-created limitations on this aspect of our inherent right based on our collective decisions and self-government."
The Metis Laws of the Harvest are collectively decided and self-governed, which will allow the MMF to give punishments they feel are more appropriate than simple fines.
Adjudication procedures still need to be defined.
