PART II
RIGHTS OF THE ABORIGINAL PEOPLES OF CANADA
35. (1) The existing aboriginal and treaty rights of the
aboriginal peoples of Canada are hereby recognized and affirmed.
(2) In this Act, "aboriginal peoples of Canada" includes
the Indian, Inuit, and Metis peoples of Canada.
(3) For greater certainty, in subsection (1) "treaty rights"
includes rights that now exist by way of land claims agreements
or may be so acquired.
(4) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the aboriginal
and treaty rights referred to in subsection (1) are guaranteed
equally to male and female persons.(17)
35.1 The government of Canada and the provincial governments
are committed to the principal that, before any amendment is made
to Class 24 of section 91 of the "Constitution Act, 1867",
to section 25 of this Act or to this Part,
(a) a constitutional conference that includes in its
agenda an item relating to the proposed amendment, composed of
the Prime Minister of Canada and the first ministers of the provinces,
will be convened by the Prime Minister of Canada; and
(b) the Prime Minister of Canada will invite representatives
of the aboriginal peoples of Canada to participate in the discussions
on that item.(18)
Constitution Act 1982