This book is a collection of papers on various aspects of Canada's fiduciary obligation to indigenous peoples in Quebec in the case of Quebec's accession to sovereignty. Topics of the papers include Canada's fiduciary obligation under international law in general; the relevance of the right of self-determination of peoples under international law to those fiduciary obligations; the role of recognition of Quebec as a state; and the admission of Quebec to international organizations. Annexes to the book include papers on Canada's fiduciary obligation and Quebec's succession to Canada's rights and duties in case of secession; Canada's fiduciary obligation under general principles of law recognized in national legal systems; and Canada's concerns regarding the International Labour Organisation Convention on Indigenous Peoples of 1989.

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.