Section 35 [General Rights]
(1) The existing aboriginal and treaty rights of the aboriginal
peoples of Canada are hereby recognized and affirmed.
(2) In this act, "aboriginal peoples of Canada" includes the
Indian, Inuit, and Metis peoples of Canada.
(3) For greater certainty, in Subsection (1) "treaty rights"
includes rights that now exist by way of land claims agreements or
may be so acquired.
(4) Notwithstanding any other provision of this act, the
aboriginal and treaty rights referred to in Subsection (1) are
guaranteed equally to male and female persons.
Section 35.1 [Constitutional Amendments]
The government of Canada and the provincial governments are
committed to the principal that, before any amendment is made to
Class 24 of Section 91 of the "Constitution Act, 1867", to Section
25 of this act or to this part,
(a) a constitutional conference that includes in its agenda an
item relating to the proposed amendment, composed of the Prime
Minister of Canada and the first ministers of the provinces, will
be convened by the Prime Minister of Canada; and
(b) the Prime Minister of Canada will invite representatives of
the aboriginal peoples of Canada to participate in the discussions
on that item.