Canadian Aboriginal Law

The Canadian Aboriginal law is a set of rules concerning with a variety of issues
related to aboriginal people, i.e about the rights of land and traditional practices.
It regulates the treaties between the Aboriginals and the government.

Around 1450, there were five Aboriginal nations (the Mohawk, Onondaga,
Seneca, Oneida, and Cayuga) who formed the Iroquois Confederacy. The founder is
generally acknowledged to be Dekanawidah. Dekanawidah guided the five nations
together. In 1720 another Aboriginal clan joined the Iroquois Confederacy and the
Confederacy became known as the Six Nations.

The first Constitution of the Five Nations (Iroquois) was not written down, but
were only passed from generation to generation over speech, because there was no
written language at that time. As soon as there was a written language the Constitution
of the Iroquois Nations was written down and is now better known as “The Great
Binding Law” (Gayanashagowa).

The Constitution deals with the rights, duties, and responsibilities of the
Aboriginals.
The Law covered adoption, emigration, treason, and secession.
Many of the principles of justice and fairness found in “The Great Binding Law” can also
be found in the constitution of Canada and the USA and other modern civil rights
documents.