This case is about a man named Ronald Sparrow, who was criminally charged in 1984 for fishing with a drift net that exceeded regulation length under Section. 61(1) of the Fisheries Act. Sparrow is part of a Canadian-First Nations Band called Musqueam, and argued that S. 61(1) violates his rights under S. 35 of the Canadian Constitution. S. 35, guarantees all first nations, the protection of their fishing, logging, hunting, and land rights. The Crown’s argument was that Sparrow knowingly violated his food fishing license, however according to Sparrow, this law was inconsistent with S.35. Sparrow argued that it is his right under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms to openly and freely express and practice his spirituality and beliefs,