Reeling in tradition: How the MMF supports Red River Métis commercial fishers

June 30, 2025

_{Fishing is a long-standing cultural tradition of the Red River Métis, for both personal harvest and trade. The vital economy of commercial fishing not only upholds this rich history and carries on the Red River Métis tradition but also boosts the modern Manitoban and Métis economy.}

Grab your tackle box and fishing rod because we're celebrating Fishing Week (June 28 to July 6) with the Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF). Fishing is one of the Red River Métis' long held traditions; the MMF understands the importance of the Red River Métis Citizens heritage of the traditional economy: fishing. That's why the MMF's Traditional Economies Department is hard at work to ensure the longevity of this important part of Red River Métis culture.

Darrel Ferland, the MMF Minister of Traditional Economies, oversees the department, ensuring these traditions are upheld for generations to come.

"The extensive and rich history of the Red River Métis is deeply rooted in the early days of trade and closely linked to Manitoba's traditional economies, like commercial fishing. Through initiatives such as our Commercial Fisher Net Program, spawning studies, and ongoing fish habitat surveys, we continue to fulfill our responsibility to support the industry's sustainability and growth. Our dedication to revitalizing the commercial fishing industry remains strong, and we are committed to preserving and strengthening our culture for future generations," said Minister Ferland.

The Traditional Economies Department makes the effort to reach out to commercial fishers across the Red River Métis Homeland through online surveys; currently open is the Commercial Fishers Online Survey. The goal is to connect with Red River Métis commercial fishers and gather insight into what is important to them, and how the MMF can best support them.

The extensive and rich history of the Red River Métis is deeply rooted in the early days of trade and closely linked to Manitoba's traditional economies, like commercial fishing. Through initiatives such as our Commercial Fisher Net Program, spawning studies, and ongoing fish habitat surveys, we continue to fulfill our responsibility to support the industry's sustainability and growth. Our dedication to revitalizing the commercial fishing industry remains strong, and we are committed to preserving and strengthening our culture for future generations. - Minister of Traditional Economies, Darrel Ferland.

MMF Spotlight spoke with commercial fishers Jamie Parker, who fishes on Lake Winnipegosis, and Chris Deslauriers, who fishes on Lake Manitoba.

Parker, owner of Dawson Bay Fish Packers Ltd., shares why the commercial fishing life called to him right from the start, being born into it through his dad who was a commercial fisherman.

"My dad fished almost his whole life. I think that that's a big part of Métis [culture]," said Parker. "Commercial fishing, although it can be dangerous from time to time, it's a clean way of life and you get to kind of live off the land and you get out of it where you put into it."

Whereas Deslauriers only began commercial fishing in Manitoba in recent years.

"My adventure into commercial fishing only started after a lifestyle change three years ago [when I] sold our successful business in Kenora and moved back to Manitoba," said Deslauriers. "I started helping a couple of local fishers our first winter at our location, [then I] found and purchased my own licence last year... [My] favorite part of the adventure into commercial fishing is the ability to work side by side with my wife of 37 years."

Commercial fishing, like any career, comes with its challenges.

"[The] price of everything going up is a definite challenge... We're getting paid more for fish now, but we're also paying a lot more for everything. Fish, nets, fish tub, the gas, repairs, equipment," said Parker. "The MMF really helped me out in a couple of instances (with my business)... they supplied everybody with nets a few years back which helped some guys for sure."

Understanding the rising costs of the trade, the MMF works to assist commercial fishers economically through the Commercial Fisher Net Program.

"MMF has supported me with a program to obtain free nets to aid in our quest. Nets are a necessary tool but also a big expense to the fishers," said Deslauriers.

Another challenge for fishers in Manitoba is the unpredictable winters and summers. Fishers like Deslauriers on Lake Manitoba, a winter-only commercial fishery, are at the mercy of the weather.

"On lake Manitoba, there is no summer commercial fishing, and winter fishing only starts when the ice forms and you can safely travel on the ice to set nets," said Deslauriers.

Commercial fishers work in accordance with the weather, environment, and the habitats they fish in. The MMF has conducted multiple studies such as the Fish Spawning Ground Study, and the Spawning Study 2.0 in 2021-2023, in order to asses populations, habitats, and quality of walleye in the Camperville and Duck Bay areas of Lake Winnipegosis. It's important for both commercial fishing initiatives and conservations efforts to frequently assess lake habitats and fish populations - a hallmark of upholding the traditional economy of fishing.

However, for our commercial fishers, the challenges are outweighed by the rewarding and culturally rich nature of the career, something that commercials fishers hope to share with the next generations. For Deslauriers, he has been passing the tradition and sharing the workload with future generations in his own family.

"For the Youth it would be a way to stay in touch with family traditions," said Deslauriers. "[My grandchildren] lift the nets [and] take the fish to market and receive money for their hard work."

_{Jamie Parker owns Dawson Bay Fish Packers Ltd., operating 4-5-man crews on 50-foot boats in the summer, and ice fishing in the winter. Under the Dawson Bay Fisher Packers Ltd., Parker runs two other businesses: Dawson Bay Fresh Fish and Parkers Minnows.}

In his business, Parker has 50-foot boats with 20-foot cabins. Each summer, he hires youth to work on the boats, giving an opportunity for youth to gain hands on experience in the tradition.

"I have had a young guy, I think he's 25, work[ing] with me all winter. I paid him a crew share, so he made really good money and now he's looking for a commercial fishing license for this lake (Lake Winnipegosis) and he's stuck with it for five months of winter, which is no small feat in Manitoba." said Parker.

Encouraging and supporting Youth to fish both in leisure and commercially ensures the upcoming generations carry the torch of the traditional economy of fishing.

The MMF continues to support the traditional economies of the Red River Métis through multiple initiatives; commercials fishers, the fishing industry, and the environments they operate in are a priority.

If you'd like to learn more about vital Red River Métis traditional economies and the work the MMF is doing to uphold them, you can read more at /traditional-economies and if you are a Red River Métis commercial fisher and have not yet received nets through the Commercial Fisher Net Program, contact Brennan Richards at brennan.richards@mmf.mb.ca.

 

---

View More