Native Defendants in the Criminal Courts of the Northwest Territories, 1878 – 1885.

 Author's Abstract:

“This article examines the imposition of Canadian criminal law on the Native population of the North West Territories 1878–1885. In spite of severe deprivation as a result of the difficulties of adjusting to an agricultural economy, the crime rate among the native population was strikingly low. With the single exception of livestock theft, native crime rates were less than 20% of those of whites. The authors conclude that the Canadian authorities adopted a cautious and selective approach to introducing criminal sanctions. Native dispute settlement institutions remained viable and individuals were able to choose which system best suited their circumstances.” (157).

Highlights of the article include Indigenous perspectives of Canadian Law during this period, Indigenous legal systems at this time, sentencing rates and types of offence.