Abstract

In 1984, Ronald Sparrow was charged under the federal Fisheries Act with fishing in the Fraser River in British Columbia with a drift net longer than permitted by the Musqueam First Nation’s food fishing licence. He admitted to fishing with such a net, but raised s 35(1) of the Constitution Act, 1982, as a defence. As a member of the Musqueam Nation, he claimed that he has an Aboriginal right, protected by that subsection, to fish for food, and that the restriction on net length interferes with this right and is therefore invalid. *The Indigenous Nations Court (INC) is not a real court and this is not an actual appeal. Kent McNeil, the author of this “judgment,” is an Emeritus Professor at Osgoode Hall Law School. He is not a judge.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.