R. v. Hopper (R.), 2008 NBCA 42

• Judge: Deschênes, Richard and Bell, JJ.A.
• Court: Court of Appeal (New Brunswick)
• Case Date: October 23, 2007
• Jurisdiction: New Brunswick
• Citations: 2008 NBCA 42;(2008), 331 N.B.R.(2d) 177 (CA)

R. v. Hopper (R.) (2008), 331 N.B.R.(2d) 177 (CA);

    331 R.N.-B.(2e) 177; 849 A.P.R. 177

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Sommaire et texte intégral

[French language version follows English language version]

[La version française vient à la suite de la version anglaise]

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Temp. Cite: [2008] N.B.R.(2d) TBEd. JN.004

Renvoi temp.: [2008] N.B.R.(2d) TBEd. JN.004

Richard Hopper (appellant) v. Her Majesty the Queen (respondent)

(193/05/CA; 2008 NBCA 42)

Indexed As: R. v. Hopper (R.)

Répertorié: R. v. Hopper (R.)

New Brunswick Court of Appeal

Deschênes, Richard and Bell, JJ.A.

May 29, 2008.

Summary:

Résumé:

Hopper was charged with possession of a deer carcass contrary to s. 58 of the Fish and Wildlife Act.

The New Brunswick Provincial Court, in a decision reported at 275 N.B.R.(2d) 251; 722 A.P.R. 251, found Hopper guilty. Hopper appealed.

The New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench, Trial Division, in a decision reported 295 N.B.R.(2d) 21; 766 A.P.R. 21, dismissed the appeal. Hopper appealed, with leave.

The New Brunswick Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal.

Fish and Game - Topic 847

Indian, Inuit and Métis rights - Right to hunt - Métis - Hopper was charged with possession of a deer carcass contrary to s. 58 of the Fish and Wildlife Act - Hopper admitted all the elements of the offence, but argued that he was exempt from the Act based on aboriginal ancestry - The New Brunswick Court of Appeal affirmed the rejection of the argument - Hopper, who had little aboriginal ascendance though he was the direct descendant of a treaty signatory, had failed to establish that his ancestors belonged to a distinctive community of aboriginals or Métis, who over the years, had continuously lived as a distinctive people with their distinctive customs, traditions or way of life - In addition, Hopper failed to establish any connection with a contemporary rights-bearing community - See paragraphs 10 to 18.

Indians, Inuit and Métis - Topic 4408

Treaties and proclamations - General - Where applicable - Hopper was charged with possession of a deer carcass contrary to s. 58 of the Fish and Wildlife Act - Hopper admitted all the elements of the offence, but invoked treaty rights based on the "Treaty of 1693 with the Tribes of Massachusetts Bay and Rivers Area" (the Treaty) - Hopper was a direct descendant of Chief Madockawando, a signatory of the Treaty - The New Brunswick Court of Appeal affirmed the rejection of the argument where the Treaty did not apply in present day New Brunswick, where the offence was committed - See paragraphs 19 to 22.

Chasse et pêche - Cote 847

Droits des Indiens, des Inuits et des Métis - Droit de chasser - Métis - [Voir Fish and Game - Topic 847 ].

Indiens, Inuits et Métis - Cote 4408

Traités et proclamations - Généralités - Conditions d'application - [Voir Indians, Inuit and Métis - Topic 4408 ].

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Simon, [1985] 2 S.C.R. 387; 62 N.R. 366; 71 N.S.R.(2d) 15; 171 A.P.R. 15, revsing. (1982), 49 N.S.R.(2d) 566; 96 A.P.R. 566 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 5].

R. v. Van der Peet (D.M.), [1996] 2 S.C.R. 507; 200 N.R. 1; 80 B.C.A.C. 81; 130 W.A.C. 81, refd to. [para. 9].

R. v. Powley (S.) et al., [2003] 2 S.C.R. 207; 308 N.R. 201; 177 O.A.C. 201; 2003 SCC 43, refd to. [para. 9].

R. v. Acker (K.J.) (2004), 281 N.B.R.(2d) 275; 736 A.P.R. 275; 2004 NBPC 24, refd to. [para. 9].

R. v. Lavigne (G.), Jr. (2007), 319 N.B.R.(2d) 261; 823 A.P.R. 261; 2007 NBQB 171, refd to. [para. 9].

R. v. Castonguay (R.) et al. (2006), 298 N.B.R.(2d) 31; 775 A.P.R. 31; 2006 NBCA 43, refd to. [para. 9].

R. v. N.T.C. Smokehouse Ltd., [1996] 2 S.C.R. 672; 200 N.R. 321; 80 B.C.A.C. 269; 130 W.A.C. 269, refd to. [para. 11].

R. v. Peter-Paul (T.) (1998), 196 N.B.R.(2d) 292; 501 A.P.R. 292 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 21].

R. v. Paul (1980), 30 N.B.R.(2d) 545; 70 A.P.R. 545 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 21].

R. v. Simon (1958), 124 C.C.C. 110 (N.B.C.A.), refd to. [para. 21].

Counsel:

Avocats:

Ronald E. Gaffney, Q.C., for the appellant;

Pierre R. Castonguay, for the respondent.

This appeal was heard on October 23, 2007, by Deschênes, Richard and Bell, JJ.A., of the New Brunswick Court of Appeal. The following decision of the Court of Appeal was delivered in both official languages on May 29, 2008, by Bell, J.A.