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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