Chapter Two Flashcards
Aboriginal Legal System
Legal system before contact with Europeans.
Transmitted orally from , sometimes transmitted through legend or stories to make easier to remember and inspire the listener to respect for the law.
Common Law Rules of Reception of English Law
Three most relevant to Canada:
Settlement
Conquest or Cession
Adoption
Aboriginal Legal System
Before contact with Europeans
Not written
transmitted orally from generation
some - transmitted through legends and stories to inspire listener to respect the law
How did Gayanashagowa come about?
Iroquois for “great binding law”
Confederacy - 1142 CE
between two chiefs - Dekanawida & Hiawatha
Took 40 years to convince tribes to form union together
What did Gayanashagowa mean for the people?
Checks and balances - gave every man and woman a voice in Tribal Affairs
Power of was chiefs kept in check by Peace Chiefs
Chiefs appointed by clan mother - could be revoked if they didn’t act in the best interest of the clan.
When did the Great Binding Law finally get written down?
in the 18th century
The US Constitution and the Charter of United Nations refer to the Iroquois Great Binding Law in drawing up their own legal documents.
Imperial Statute
Law passed by the English Parliament applying to an overseas English colony.
Conquest or Cession
The transfer of a colony from one country to another.
What is the second type of law when the English colonize?
Common Law colonization law - if laws already existed in the colony they would continue until changed by English government. If no legislature, English law could be imposed.
Adoption
3rd way English Law could be received into British colony
A colony’s law would pass a reception statute that adopted English law as of a certain date.
Reception of English and French Law into Canada’s Provinces and Territories
Quebec east to NFL English and French laws introduces by settlement or cession.
Ontario west and the territories - they were adopted through reception statutes
Reception of English and French Law - Newfoundland and Labrador
Canadas first colony
Discovered as early as 1500s
1583 Sir Humphry Gilbert claimed the island for England
Last to join Confederation - March 31, 1949
Reception of English and French Law - Nova Scotia
Originally part of French Acadia
French colonist first settled in 1600’s - 1713 Treaty of Utrecht
English acquired Nova Scotia through cession
Joined Confederation one of first three - July 1, 1867
Reception of English and French Law - Prince Edward Island
Originally settled by French - Treaty of Utrecht
1763 ceded the island to English by the Treaty of Paris
English acquired the island by cession
admitted to Canada July 1, 1873
Reception of English and French Law - New Brunswick
Originally settled by French Colonist part of French Acadia
1763 ceded by the Treaty of Paris
Became part of Nova Scotia but became a separate colony in 1784
Reception of English law by settlement not by cession
New Brunswick like Nova Scotia one of 3 original colonies joined the Confederation and admitted to Canada on July 1, 1867
Reception of English and French Law - Quebec
1763 France ceded Quebec in the Treaty of Paris
1791 Constitutional Act separated Quebec into two colonies Upper Canada (Ontario) and Lower Canada (Quebec)
Quebec joined Confederation and admitted to Canada on July 1, 1867