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Historians have published detailed accounts recently of Canada's administration of the Manitoba Act in the 1870s. Their characterizations range from "government lawlessness" to "fulfillment and overfulfillment" of obligations. Yet none of the historians pronouncing so b oldly on the legal implications of the administrative history is competent to render such sweeping extra - judicial judgments. None is an historian learned in the law. Paul Chartrand's book on Man itoba's Metis Settlement Scheme of 1870 ought to be welcomed on that account alone. The work " began as a submission in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the LL.M. degree and essentially reflects [a lawyer's reading of] the law [and history] as found in March 1988" ( p. xii).
Chartrand's focus is upon section 31 of the Manitoba Act:
And whereas, it is expedient, towards the extinguishment of the Indian Title to the lands in the Province, to appropriate a portion of such ungranted lands, to the extent of one million four hundred thousand acres thereof, for the benefit of the families of the half - br eed residents, it is hereby enacted, that, under...