|
Aboriginal Rights and Treaty Rights are concepts that many individuals tend to confuse and misunderstand. In a statement made by B.C. First Nations chief's, this confusion is clearly done away with. " Aboriginal rights to land resources, culture, language, a livelihood and self- government are not something conferred by treaties or offered to Indians by a beneficent government. These are rights which Indian nations enjoy from time immemorial."
Treaty Rights and Treaty
negotiations in Canada date back to the 17th century . The Royal Proclamation
of 1763 is a very important document clearly stating that aboriginal
people have title to the land. In 1869-70 the Canadian government acquired
Rupert's land from the Hudson Bay Company. This land purchase led to
the Canadian government entering in to a series of treaties , referred
to as the Numbered Treaties 1-11.Treaty negotiations went on in western
Canada from 1871-1921. Throughout the 1970's and 1980's new treaty negotiations
were attempted ending with new treaties being signed in the late 1990's.
Given that treaty negotiations seem to be a very long process, there
are two key terms that must be understood: Aboriginal Rights and Treaty
Rights.
|
Copyright© 2002 Saskatoon Public School Division
