In Canada, the fundamentals of law relating to Aboriginal peoples are unclear and Indigenous communities lack appropriate guidance in terms of efficiently accessing the legal system to address breaches of their rights. This is yet another injustice endured by Aboriginal peoples in Canada. However, the Supreme Court of Canada has begun to place greater emphasis on the honour-of-the-Crown principle and less on the paternalistic, complex notion that governments owe a fiduciary duty to Aboriginal peoples. Dickson explores both theoretical and practical implications of this fundamental shift and possible future outcomes.

Jamie D. Dickson's profile page

Jamie Dickson is vice-president in charge of legal affairs at Des Nedhe Development, which is the economic development organization of English River First Nation in Saskatchewan. Prior to that role, he worked in private practice with a national business law firm, as corporate counsel for a major resource development company, and as a consultant for First Nations in various contexts.

Dickson has represented both First Nations and industry in negotiating major collaboration agreements in the resources sector. Notably, Dickson has successfully negotiated multi-million-dollar agreements in both Saskatchewan and Western Australia. Having acted extensively for both First Nations and industry, Dickson brings a unique perspective to the issues examined in this book.

In 2014, Dickson completed his Master of Laws program at the University of Saskatchewan. As part of that program, he wrote a master’s thesis entitled “The Honour of the Crown: Making Sense of Crown Liability Doctrine in Crown/Aboriginal Law in Canada.” That thesis formed the basis for this book.

Dickson lives in Saskatoon with his wife Anna and son Calvin.