Wayne Maracle knows as a mohawk he has rights to harvest walleye from the Bay of Quinte.
He also says he believes it is equally his duty to ensure the local fish population remains strong and healthy.
That belief has earned the 66-year-old man an award from Ontario's oldest conservation agency.
Maracle has become the first native recipient of the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters' certificate of merit.
The small plaque, which was presented to Maracle for his ongoing work in maintaining a healthy walleye population in the Bay of Quinte, says little about Maracle's work. For the past five years, he has been hatching and releasing walleye into the bay, an estimated 85 million fry and fingerlings.
It's an astounding figure considering he began by hatching walleye eggs in a 45-gallon drum in a small shed along the bay's shore.
In 2001, walleye were the focus of a major investigation by the Ministry of Natural Resources. Fearing the fishery was about to collapse, the province was considering a moratorium on walleye fishing in the bay.
Many public meetings were held that year, and an advisory board was created by the ministry. Maracle was approached to sit on the board and he did so, he said, to provide a Mohawk perspective.
He said the information that was presented by ministry officials regarding the number of fish being taken by natives by spear and net seemed far too high.
"It wasn't just about the native rights, though," Maracle said. "I
agreed to sit on the board because I wanted to make sure the native community was represented."
During the three and a half years Maracle served on the board, he debated ministry statistics over native harvesting, conducted gill-net tests to prove the scientists were wrong and began to hatch and release his own walleye in hopes of boosting the population in the bay.
"Fishing is there for everyone," he said.
"It's one thing to say, 'As a native, we have a right,' but everyone has the right to fish.
"When you abuse a right, it doesn't become a right anymore. I wanted to do my part so I started the hatchery. It came out really well for me and now it's nothing for me to hatch 10 million walleye in a year," he said.
Maracle provides the ministry with information regarding his releases. He said he likes to know his fish are helping sustain the fishery which, only a few years ago, was threatened.
Terry Quinney, provincial manager of fish and wildlife services for the federation, said certificates of merit are only given when the board agrees the individual has made an ongoing, long-term contribution to the environment.
Maracle, he said, is worthy of the award.
"As Ontario's oldest and largest conservation agency, we know our fishing and hunting heritage depends on healthy fish and wildlife," he said.
"Everyone can make a contribution to that goal, and at the grassroots level there are some very unique individuals who do do their part. Wayne Maracle is one of those with his culturing of young walleye."