............................................................................................................................................... II ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ............................................................................................................................. III TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................................................... IV INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................ 1 1. PROOF OF ABORIGINAL TITLE ......................................................................................................... 6 A. PROVING TITLE ........................................................................................................................................... 6 I. Sufficiency of Occupation .................................................................................................................... 7 II. Continuity ......................................................................................................................................... 11 III. Exclusivity of Occupation ................................................................................................................ 13 B. THE MARSHALL/BERNARD DECISIONS ........................................................................................................... 16 C. HISTORICAL OCCUPATION ............................................................................................................................ 28 D. TITLE BY TREATY ........................................................................................................................................ 40 E. SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................................ 50 2. MODES OF EXTINGUISHMENT: VOLUNTARY SURRENDER AND UNILATERAL LEGISLATION ........... 51 A. VOLUNTARY SURRENDER ....................................................................................................................... 53 B. LEGISLATIVE COMPETENCE ..................................................................................................................... 55 I. Executive and Legislative Authority .................................................................................................. 57 II. The Imperial Crown, Imperial Parliament, and the Royal Prerogative ............................................. 62 III. The Colonial Executive .................................................................................................................... 80 IV. Legislative Authority in the Colonies ............................................................................................... 86 V. Post-Confederation .......................................................................................................................... 93 C. CLEAR AND PLAIN INTENT ...................................................................................................................... 96 D. SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................................... 97 3. EXTINGUISHMENT IN THE MARITIME PROVINCES ....................................................................... 100 A. VOLUNTARY SURRENDER ..................................................................................................................... 100 B. EXTINGUISHMENT BY UNILATERAL LEGISLATION ....................................................................................... 103 I. Legislative Competence .................................................................................................................. 103 II. Repugnancy.................................................................................................................................... 115 III. Clear and Plain Intent .................................................................................................................... 117 C. INSTANCES OF POSSIBLE LEGISLATIVE EXTINGUISHMENT .................................................................................. 122 I. Colonial Legislation ......................................................................................................................... 122