Home and Native Land

Section 35 of the Constitution Act expressly acknowledges, for thefirst time, that there are "aboriginal people" and"aboriginal rights." What, then, are the implications forCanada of the inclusion of this section in our constitution? Central tothis question is the definition of aboriginal rights and whether theyinclude such "special" political rights asself-determination. Home and Native Land is divided into twomajor sections. The first focuses on definitions and provides adetailed account of the meaning of the phrase "aboriginalrights" as used by the two main actors: the government and theaboriginal peoples. The second is devoted to the question of politicalrights and the means by which this issue can be resolved.