"Reconciliation between the Canadian state and the Aboriginal peoples of Canada is a central concern of Canadian law in the 21st century, one that reaches into every sector of Canadian society. Resource development, environmental regulation, the criminal justice system, constitutional politics, international relations, intellectual property rights, social welfare policy, cultural development, health care services, education, and language policy are only some of the areas where an understanding of the law relating to Aboriginal peoples has become an urgent necessity.
This course will introduce students to the historical, social and political forces at play in developing the legal framework surrounding the relationship between the Canadian state and the Aboriginal peoples of Canada, and discuss new developments that are reshaping the legal landscape. These forces include increased recognition of Aboriginal rights to land, the duty to consult, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and the national inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls."