Aboriginal Sovereingty

ABORIGINAL RIGHTS AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN CANADA

A. Introduction This article explores briefly the relation between aboriginal rights and sustainable development in Canada, using as a vehicle for discussion the decision of the Supreme Court of Canada in Delgamuukw v. British Columbia.' This case involved claims by the Houses of Gitksan and Wet'suwet'en, comprising some 6,000 to 7,000 persons, to aboriginal title over separate portions of approximately 58,000 square kilometres of land in the interior of British Columbia. The territory is a rich agricultural area with vast forests and abundant wildlife. Delgamuukw is the most recent of what can only be described as an explosion of Supreme Court of Canada decisions relating to aboriginal rights over the last 25 years, but particularly since 1982 when Canada amended its constitution to provide (inter alia) a measure of protection to aboriginal rights.2This protection is 39. Although, in relation to forum non conveniens,there may be constitutional and Non Conveniens the Constitutional constraints: WinstonAnderson,"Forum see Right Law of Access:A Commonwealth Caribbean (1993)2 J. Transnational and Perspective" Policy51. * Facultyof Law,University the WestIndies. of 1. (1997) 153 D.L.R. (4th) 193 (S.C.C.),rev'g in part (1993) 104 D.L.R. (4th) 470 McEachern whichaff'd(1991)79 D.L.R.(4th) 185(B.C.S.C., CJSC)(hereafter (B.C.C.A.), v. of For "Trial"). relatedrulingsconcerning admissibility evidencesee Delgamuukw The v. Queenin rightof B.C. (1987)40 D.L.R.(4th)685 (B.C.S.C.); Delgamuukw B.C. [1989]6 v. W.W.R.308 (B.C.S.C.); Delgamuukw B.C [1989]6 W.W.R.319 (B.C.S.C.). and LamerCJCidentifies casesas commencing the 2. In the openingpara.of hisjudgment, with R. v. Sparrow[1990]1 S.C.R.1075,70 D.L.R. (4th) 385 (hereaftercited to D.L.R.); proceedingthroughthe Vander Peet trilogy(R. v. Vander Peet [1996]2 S.C.R.507, 137 Ltd cited to D.L.R.),R. v. N.T.C.Smokehouse [1996]2 S.C.R. D.L.R. (4th)289 (hereafter 2 citedto...