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88 Can. B. Rev. 1 (2009)

handle is hein.journals/canbarev88 and id is 1 raw text is: 










Vol.88                        2009                         No. 1



   THE CROWN'S FIDUCIARY OBLIGATIONS IN
 THE ERA OF ABORIGINAL SELF-GOVERNMENT

                          Kent McNeil*


 This article confronts the contention that the Crown s fiduciary
 obligations are incompatible with Aboriginal self-government. Relying
 on Supreme Court decisions, it argues instead that the Crown has a
fiduciary duty to support Aboriginal autonomy. Consequently, past
infringements of the inherent right of self-government by imposition of
the band council system violated the Crown sfiduciary obligations. The
appropriate remedy for this breach is restitution, involving federal
assistance to enable First Nations to restore and maintain their
capacity to govern themselves in accordance with their own traditions
and present-day aspirations.


Cet article vient battre en br~che l'argument voulant que les
obligations fiduciaires du gouvernement sont incompatibles avec
l'autonomie gouvernementale des Autochtones. Invoquant divers arrdts
de la Cour suprdme, ilfaitplut6t valoir qu 'il incombe ci la Couronne
une obligation fiduciaire de promouvoir l'autonomie autochtone. Par
consequent, les violations anterieures du droit inherent d l'autonomie
gouvernementale qui decoulent de la mise en place du syst~me du
conseil de bande representaient autant de manquements aux
obligations fiduciaires de la Couronne. La restitution est la rparation
qu'il convient d'accorder pour remedier c ces manquements, et la

    *   Professor, Osgoode Hall Law School, Toronto. The assistance of Leah Mack
and David Yarrow with this article is very gratefully acknowledged. I have also
benefited from discussion with Kerry Wilkins of the issues covered, and from Michael
Coyle and Kathy Simo's helpful comments. I would also like to thank the Social
Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and the Killam Trusts for their
financial support.


THE CANADIAN BAR REVIEW

   LA REVUE DU BARREAU
           CANADIEN

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