Alberta's Metis Settlements Legislation: An Overview of Ownership & Management of Settlement Lands (Canadian Plains Studies

by Catherine Bell

On 1 November 1990 the government of Alberta enacted legislation to enable Metis ownership and government of Alberta's Metis settlement lands. This book explores the legislative history of the Metis settlements and constitutional issues arising from Alberta's initiative. The main body of the work provides an overview of the 1990 legislation with particular emphasis on land ownership and management. The author examines the Metis land registry system, rights and interests in settlement lands, land use planning and resource management. The integration of provincial regulation and common law property rights is also explored. The book concludes with an exploration of broader legal issues including provincial jurisdiction to enact Metis legislation and constitutional protection of the Metis settlements legislation.

The scope of the Metis settlements legislation is enormous. It is the first provincial legislative scheme to enact a comprehensive rights regime for an aboriginal people. The main contribution of this book is its synthesis of essential components of the legislation and regulations, making the law in this area accessible. The book also links basic concepts of Anglo-Canadian land law to unique proprietary interests created to further the autonomy of Alberta's Metis peoples. The work will be of particular interest to lawyers and others dealing with the settlements on land-related matters and persons studying or developing models for aboriginal self-governance.

144 pages, Paperback

First published June 4, 1994