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Aboriginal law — Treaty rights — Historic treaties — Interpretation
Aboriginal law — Treaty rights — Honour of Crown — Fiduciary duty
(00:00:35) Facts and Procedural History
(00:06:30) Judgment of the Court
(00:30:03) Reasons for Judgment: Jamal J. (Wagner C.J. and Karakatsanis, Côté, Rowe, Martin, Kasirer, O’Bonsawin and Moreau JJ. concurring)
(00:30:07) I. Introduction – 1
(00:40:45) II. Facts – 14
(00:41:14) A. The Anishinaabe of the Upper Great Lakes – 15
(00:42:28) B. The Anishinaabe’s System of Law and Governance – 17
(00:44:12) C. The Historical Context of Anishinaabe-Crown Relations – 19
(00:44:17) (1) The Covenant Chain Alliance – 19
(00:45:32) (2) The Royal Proclamation, 1763 – 21
(00:46:20) (3) The Council at Niagara (1764) – 22
(00:47:02) (4) The War of 1812 – 23
(00:47:29) (5) The Annuity Model and Civilization Policy – 24
(00:49:06) D. Events Leading to the Robinson Treaties – 27
(00:49:09) (1) Mining in the Upper Great Lakes Region – 27
(00:50:07) (2) The Vidal-Anderson Commission (1849) – 28
(00:51:31) (3) The Mica Bay Incident (1849) – 30
(00:52:07) (4) The Negotiation of the Robinson Treaties (1850) – 31
(00:58:21) (5) Key Provisions of the Robinson Treaties – 42
(01:04:02) E. Payment of the Annuities After 1850 – 44
(01:05:36) F. This Litigation – 46
(01:06:34) III. Judicial History – 47
(01:07:01) A. Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Stage One) – 48
(01:08:31) B. Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Stage Two) – 50
(01:09:25) C. Court of Appeal for Ontario (Stages One and Two) – 51
(01:15:54) D. Subsequent Developments – 59
(01:18:55) IV. Issues – 65
(01:20:17) V. Analysis – 67
(01:20:19) A. The Interpretation of Historic Aboriginal Treaties – 67
(01:21:05) (1) Treaties Are Sui Generis Agreements Intended To Advance Reconciliation – 68
(01:22:30) (2) Treaty Rights Must Be Interpreted in Accordance With the Honour of the Crown – 71
(01:23:47) (3) Differences Between Historic and Modern Treaties – 75
(01:25:47) (4) Principles Governing the Interpretation of Historic Treaties – 78
(01:30:55) B. The Standard of Appellate Review for the Interpretation of Historic Treaties – 83
(01:31:00) (1) Introduction – 83
(01:34:53) (2) Discussion – 88
(01:56:33) (3) Conclusion – 119
(01:56:54) C. The Interpretation of the Augmentation Clause in the Robinson Treaties – 120
(01:56:59) (1) Introduction – 120
(01:59:24) (2) Step One: Examining the Wording of the Augmentation Clause To Identify the Possible Interpretations – 125
(02:12:57) (3) Step Two: Considering the Wording of the Augmentation Clause Against the Historical and Cultural Backdrop – 151
(02:46:55) (4) Conclusion – 195
(02:49:48) D. Limitations Issues – 198
(02:49:50) (1) Introduction – 198
(02:55:05) (2) The Breach of Treaty Claim Is Not an Action on the Case – 204
(02:58:55) (3) The Breach of Treaty Claim Is Not an Action of Account – 211
(03:01:38) (4) Conclusion – 217
(03:01:52) E. The Crown’s Obligation To Diligently Implement the Augmentation Clause – 218
(03:02:22) (1) The Honour of the Crown Is Not a Cause of Action but Can Generate Various Duties – 219
(03:04:33) (2) The Crown Has No Fiduciary Duties in Respect of the Augmentation Promise – 222
(03:22:12) (3) The Crown Has a Duty To Diligently Implement the Augmentation Promise – 248
(03:33:05) F. The Remedy for the Crown’s Failure To Diligently Implement the Augmentation Promise – 265
(03:33:11) (1) Introduction – 265
(03:38:53) (2) The Full Range of Remedies Is Available – 273
(03:40:57) (3) A Declaration Is an Appropriate Remedy in This Case – 278
(03:44:55) (4) A Declaration Is Appropriate, but Insufficient – 283
(03:48:23) (5) Further Direction Is Needed – 288
(04:06:55) VI. Disposition – 311
