NEGOTIATED VS. JUDGE-NIADE ABORIGINAL LAW: BFUDGING THE TWO SOLITUDES Julie Ramona Jai A thesis submitted in conformity with the requirements for the degree of LL.M. Graduate Department of Law University of Toronto Q Copyright by Julie Ramona Jai (September, 2000). National Library Bibliothèque nationale du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliographie Services services bibliographiques 395 Wellington Street 395, rue Wellington OttawsON K1A ON4 Ottawa ON K1A ON4 Canada Canada The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive licence allowing the exclusive permettant à la National Library of Canada to Bibliothèque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distribute or sell reproduire, prêter, distribuer ou copies of this thesis in microform, vendre des copies de cette thèse sous paper or electronic formats. la forme de microfiche/fïlm, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format électronique. The author retains ownership of the L'auteur conserve la propriété du copyright in this thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protège cette thèse. thesis nor substantial extracts fiom it Ni la thèse ni des extraits substantiels may be printed or otherwise de celle-ci ne doivent être imprimés reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation. NEGOTIATED VS. JUDGE-MADE ABORIGINAL LAW: BRIDGING THE TWO SOLITUDES A thesis submitted in conformity with the requirements for the degree of LL.M. Graduate Depment of Law, University of Toronto Julie Ramona Jai, 2000. ABSTRACT This paper examines the two streams through which Aboriginal law is currently being developed - through negotiations, and through court decisions. It then analyzes the interaction between these two strearns, both positive and negative. It is my thesis that a greater understanding b y courts of modern negotiated agreements will provide them with a source of law, and with an understanding of Aboriginal perspectives, which will help them to better bridge the gap between their stated objectives, and the "on the ground" impact of their decisions. Both negotiated and judge-made Aboriginal law must interact in a more synergistic way if society is to meet the challenges inherent in reconciling preexisting Aboriginal occupation with the cument reality of a largely non-Aboriginal population with competing nghts and interests. Greater mutual understanding of their respective roles, strengths and weaknesses will help these two streams of law to work together, rather than at cross-purposes. NEGOTLQTED VS .JUDGE-MADE ABORIGINAL LAW: BRIDGING TKE TWO SOLITUDES TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ....... ... ......................................................................................................... 1 CHAPTER OM3: NEGOTIATED ABONGINAL LAW TKROUGH MODERN TREATIES: A STUDY OF THE PROCESS. ITS STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES A . Introduction ..................... .,, ................................................................................................ 5 B . Theoretical Underphings and Governing Pnnciples of Nego tiated Abonginal Law 1. Historical Treaties ...................................................... ............................................... 8 2 . Modem Treaties and Self-Goverriment Agreements in the Yukon .............................. 9 3. Why Parties Negotiate ................................................................................................ 11 4 . Relative Benefits of Negotiation vs . Litigation a Benefits of the Negotiation Process - the Yukon Perspective .............................. 13 b . Criticisms of the Negotiation Process - the Yukon Perspective ........................... 16 c . Perspectives of Academics and Judges on Negotiations as a Means to Address Aboriginal Claims ............................................................................... 19 C . Process and Parties to Modem Treaty. Negotiations ....................................................... 23 1. Comprehensive Claims Negotiations ........................................................................ 23 2 . Parties. at. the Table and Format of Negotiations....................................................... 26 3 . Negotiating Approaches.............................................................................................. 27 D . Principles Arisinp fiom the Negotiation Process and the Yukon Agreements ................. 31 E . Resul ts .............................................................................................................................. 34 F . Negotiated Abonginal Law ............................................................................................... 38 Appendix 1 ........................................................................................................................... 41 Appendix II ............................................................................................................................. 42 CHAPTER WO: JUDGE-MADE ABORIGNAL LAW: A STUDY OF THE PROCESS. ITS STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES A . odction....................................................................................................................... 43 B . Theoretical. Underpinnings and Goveming Principles of Judge-Made Aborigind Law 1. Pnnciples of Judging................................................................................................... 44 2 . Approaches to Interpretation ....................................................................................... 47 3 . The Influence of Personal Characteristics on Judge-Made Law ................................. 49 4. Sources of Law ........................................................................................................ 51 5. Uniquely Challenging Factors to Judge-Made Aboriginal Law ............................... 52 6. 1s Aboriginal Law Invented Law? ................................................................ .. ......... 58 C. Process and Parties in Developing Judge-Made Aboriginal Law 1 . Process and Parties in the Supreme Court of Canada ................................................ 60 2. lnherent Limitations of the frocess ............................................................ .............. 61 CHAlPTER THREE: THE EFFECT OF NEGOTIATED AB0RiGINA.L LAW ON JUDGE-MADE ABONGINAL LAW A . Introduction.................................................................................................................... 64 B . The Lack of Impact of Modem Treaties on Judge-made Aboriginal law ......................... 65 C . Reasons Why Modem Land Clairn and Self-government Agreements are Rarely Referred to by Courts .................................................................................... 68 D . Potential Contributions of Negotiated Aboriginal Law to Judge-made Aboriginal Law ............................................................................................ 74 A . Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 82 B . Ways in which Judge-made Law Cm Affect Negotiated Abonginal Law ....................... 83 1. Cases Interpreting Historic Treaties or Dealing with Abonginal Rights .................... 83 a . Interpretive Principles ........................................................................................... 84 b . Substantive Rights, Legal Principles and Bargaining Power ................................ 89 2 . Cases Interpreting Modem Treaties ............................................................................ 94 3 . Cases Specifically Relating to the Negotiation Process ........................................... 100 C . Case Study: impact of the Delgamuukw Decision on the Yukon Treaty Negotiations ............................................................................................. 105 1. The Yukon Land Claim Negotiations ....................................................................... 105 2 . Review of the Delgamurikw Decision and its Potential Impact on Modem Land Claim Negotiations a . What's New in the Delgamzirrkw Decision? ....................................................... 111 b . What Elements Could be Helpful to Negotiations? ........................................... 115 c. What Elements Might be Harmful to Negotiations? ........................................... 117 d . How Might the Decision Affect Existing Yukon Land Claim Agreements? ..... 119 3. Conclusion .............................................................................................................. 123 CWTER FIVE: CONCLUSION A . Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 125 B . Challenges Facing Both Negotiating Tables and Courts ................................................ 126 C . Structural Limitations of Court Processes as Compared with Negotiations 1. Focus on Legal Rights .............................................................................................. 129 2. Lack of Involvement of Aboriginal People ............................................................... 131 3. Limited Ability of Courts to Consider Matenal as to the Wider Context ................ 132 D . Arguments in Favour of Increased Dialogue Between the Two Strearns of Aboriginal Law 1. Potential Impacts of Court Decisions on Negotiations ............................................. 134 2. Potential Impacts of Negotiated Agreements on Court Decisions...........................