歐洲人約在16世紀到達現今加拿大，早在這個時期數百年甚至數千年之前，就有原住民族居住在加拿大，加拿大原住民族的憲法地位就是根據他們最先居住加拿大的事實而建立的。1763年殖民加拿大的大英帝國發佈「皇家宣言」，承認原住民權利，後又透過條約承認原住民族的土地權。加拿大在1867年根據『英屬北美法案』正式建國，但並未針對原住民族的地位加予定義。1876年加拿大國會根據1867年的『英屬北美法案』就原住民族事務由聯邦管轄的規定，訂定『印地安法案』（並經多次修正），針對印地安人的地位加以規定，加拿大最高法院也透過個案，立下許多判例釐清原住民族的權利和條約權之關係。1982年的憲法才正式給予原住民地位做憲法層次的保障，並將印地安人、因努人、和梅蒂人同列為原住民族，但並未說明原住民族權利的實質內容。之後，加拿大最高法院繼續透過個案，解釋原住民族的權利。本文就加拿大憲法、各種法律、和加拿大最高法院的判例分析加拿大原住民族的地位。

Long before Europeans landed what is known today as Canada in the 16^(th) century, Canada was home to aboriginal people for hundreds of years. In 1763, British Crown, the colonizer of Canada, issued Royal Proclamation to recognize Aboriginal rights and title as a result of longstanding use and occupancy of the land. Aboriginal rights refer to practices, traditions, and customs that distinguish the unique culture of each First Nation and were practiced prior to European contact. Aboriginal title is a right in the land itself. In 1982, the Canadian Constitution was amended to recognize and affirm already existing aboriginal rights and the status of the Indians, Inuits, and Métis, but did not define them or identify where they may exist. The Canadian courts through individual cases, have defined some of the issues involved. This paper deals with the legal aspects of Canada's aboriginal rights and title.