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Eliminating Indigenous Jurisdictions: Federalism, the Supreme Court of Canada, and Territorial Rationalities of Power

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 October 2016

Michael McCrossan  and
Kiera L. Ladner
Michael McCrossan*
Affiliation:
University of New Brunswick, Saint John
Kiera L. Ladner*
Affiliation:
University of Manitoba
*
Department of History and Politics, University of New Brunswick (Saint John), 100 Tucker Park Road, PO Box 5050, Saint John, NB E2L 4L5, Canada, Email: mmccross@unb.ca
Department of Political Studies, University of Manitoba, 532 Fletcher Argue Building, Winnipeg, MB R3T 5V5, Canada, Email: kiera.ladner@umanitoba.ca
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Abstract

This paper examines judicial reasoning in the area of Aboriginal title, paying particular attention to the Supreme Court of Canada's Tsilhqot'in Nation (2014) decision. While the decision has been heralded as a ‘game-changer’ within media circles and legal commentaries for its recognition of a claim to title under section 35(1) of the Constitution Act, 1982, the authors argue that the decision does not depart substantially from prior judicial logics predicated upon the production of Crown sovereignty and the denial of Indigenous legal orders. In fact, the authors argue that the decision displays a clear judicial orientation towards the present jurisdictional divisions of Canadian federalism which not only serves to eliminate Indigenous legal orders and territorial responsibilities, but also provides federal and provincial governments with enhanced powers of ‘incursion’ into Aboriginal title lands.

Résumé

Cet article examine le raisonnement judiciaire dans le domaine du titre ancestral, en accordant une attention particulière au jugement de la Cour suprême du Canada dans l'affaire de la Nation Tsilhqot'in (2014). Bien que la décision ait été présentée dans les cercles médiatiques et les commentaires juridiques comme ayant « changé la donne » en raison de sa reconnaissance d'une revendication au titre en vertu de l'article 35(1) de la Constitution canadienne, les auteurs avancent que la décision ne déroge pas substantiellement de la logique judiciaire antérieure reposant sur l'affirmation de la souveraineté de la Couronne et le refus des ordres juridiques autochtones. En fait, les auteurs soutiennent que la décision affiche une orientation juridique claire vers les partages actuels de compétences du fédéralisme canadien qui ne sert pas seulement à éliminer les ordres juridiques autochtones et les responsabilités territoriales, mais qui confère également aux gouvernements fédéral et provinciaux des pouvoirs élargis d’«incursion» dans les terres visées par un titre ancestral.

Type
Research Article
Information
Canadian Journal of Political Science/Revue canadienne de science politique , Volume 49 , Issue 3 , September 2016 , pp. 411 - 431
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Political Science Association (l'Association canadienne de science politique) and/et la Société québécoise de science politique 2016 

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