Challenging the Liberal Order Framework: Natural Resources and Metis Policy in Alberta and Saskatchewan (1930-1948)

• Main Author: O'Byrne, Nicole Colleen
• Other Authors: Foster, Hamar, Webber, Jeremy
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: 2014
• Subjects: Aboriginal-non-Aboriginal relations; Alberta history (1930-1948); Saskatchewan history (1930-1948); Natural resources; The British North America Act 1930; Natural Resources Transfer Agreements; Cooperative Commonwealth Federation; Metis Association of Alberta; Saskatchewan Metis Society; Canada; Metis
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1828/5886

The British North America Act, 1930 (the Natural Resources Transfer Agreements or NRTAs) marked the end of a lengthy battle between the provincial governments of Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Manitoba and the federal government of Canada. Prior to 1930, the provincial governments did not have administrative control over their natural resources, which were managed by the federal Department of the Interior. As a result, the three prairie provinces did not share equal constitutional status with the other Canadian provinces that did control their own resources. Under the terms of the new constitutionalized intergovernmental agreements the provincial governments agreed to fulfil all of the federal government’s continuing obligations to third parties after the transfer. One of these obligations was the redemption of Métis scrip issued by the federal government to extinguish the Métis share of Aboriginal land title. After the transfer, however, the provinces resisted granting more land to satisfy what they considered to be a federal obligation. The provinces refused to redeem Métis scrip entitlements and the federal government did not enforce the terms of the NRTAs. Both the federal and provincial governments failed to live up to the terms of the constitutional agreement and the Métis scrip issue fell through the jurisdictional cracks of Canadian federalism. This dissertation examines the historical context and consequences surrounding the Alberta and Saskatchewan government’s failure to recognize Métis scripholders’ rights-based claims to land. Each provincial government pursued different avenues with respect to natural resources and Métis policies. The purpose of this study is to examine the different phases of policy development in each province in light of the general failure of recognition. The transfer of control and administration of the public domain from one level of government to another provides interesting insights into the history of government-Aboriginal relations in Canada. Aboriginal people (including ...