Aboriginal Land Rights Essay

Introduction
Canada, a country that prides itself on equality and upholding human rights, has failed to fulfill its treaty obligation to Aboriginal people. The right to land and the right to self-determination are considered to be the two most significant Aboriginal rights of the First Nations, Metis, and Inuit in Canada. The right to land involves indigenous people right to have sovereignty over their land through ownership. Self-determination is an inherent right that people have to make their own decisions regarding their lifestyle, culture, and political independence. The objective of this research paper is to investigate the issue of Aboriginal land claims and Indigenous peoples’ right to self-government. Aboriginal people in Canada consider land to be part of their Aboriginal identity for the reason being that their culture is grounded in nature. Their culture is based on the strong spiritual connection to Mother Earth and they treat their environment with the utmost respect.
According to Assembly of First Nations, “Indigenous peoples are caretakers of Mother Earth” because she “guided

Aboriginal people who have undergone years of assimilation cannot adequately present their case for Aboriginal title in the courts since they have lost their language and heritage. This paper will also make the argument that the current federal and provincial policies are not capable of resolving land claims in a timely manner. Moreover, the Canadian government has a legal obligation to consult and accommodate with Aboriginal groups when it involves activities that interfere with their treaty rights. To substantiate these main arguments, literature around Aboriginal rights and title in Canada will be