A word to my people 

As a person of Métis status, it sickens me to hear of the goings on that are happening since the Métis have been granted hunting rights similar to First Nations Peoples. There are rumours circulating that bighorn rams are being taken at an alarming rate, while they are vulnerable after the season has closed. I have heard that there have been at least seven rams registered after the season has closed, by Métis status persons. When I heard that we had been granted hunting rights, I had assumed that this meant that Métis status people would use this right to hunt in a conscientious manner and take only game that was needed to sustain their families. I had no idea that some irresponsible people would simply use this "right" as a means to beat the draw system that is in place in this province. This letter is bound to piss off quite a few people, but I don't really care. The paperwork I received from the Métis Nation of Alberta in Edmonton says, "Métis are conservationists" and "Métis can harvest for subsistence." It comes as a shock to me that we as Métis people have been waiting a long time for our hunting rights to be passed, just so we can go out and shoot a record book ram. As I have stated at the start of this letter, I am of Métis descent, but at this particular moment I am feeling a bit ashamed of this whole situation. At this time, I personally don't have a need to go out and hunt yearround and I am not condemning the people who may have to use this right to continue to feed their families, but give me a break. There are people out there with Métis status who have well paying jobs, very nice homes, newer vehicles than me and are living lifestyles that are way above the poverty line, that are simply abusing this right to hunt year-round. If this continues, I won't have to worry about voicing my opinion, because there will be nothing to worry about. The game will all be gone. These acts by a few will reflect on the whole Métis Nation and we will all be painted by the same brush. As far as the bighorn sheep issue goes, it seems funny to me that there wasn't a problem before we got status rights, and now all of a sudden they are being hunted hard when they are most vulnerable; and it isn't a case of one hunter taking one animal, it's one hunter taking numerous animals. Perhaps we as Métis people should stand back and take a look around. How we act now is going to have a bearing on how we will be judged in the future; not just by others, but by our descendants. I for one would like my grandson to be proud of his Métis heritage. I will do everything in my power to ensure that he is taught the proper way to conduct himself in life. He will be taught to hunt fair chase, take only what he needs and not to abuse the system simply because he has been given hunting rights because of his heritage. To the people who are at this time abusing these rights, I simply say that you sicken me. You have put a black mark on all people of Métis heritage. You have shamed what should have been a proud moment for all Métis people.

Wildlife officers: Stewards of Creation 

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