Appellants factum - Woodward & Company

I N D E XPART 1 – STATEMENT OF FACTS ............................................................................... 1A. History of the Proceedings ................................................................................... 1B. The Trial ............................................................................................................... 2C. The Tsilhqot’in Nation ........................................................................................... 3D. The Xeni Gwet’in .................................................................................................. 6E. The Claim Area ..................................................................................................... 7F. Tsilhqot’in Territory and the Claim Area ............................................................... 8G. Tsilhqot’in Occupation of the Claim Area from at least 1645-1660 A.D. ............... 8H. The Claim Area in Tsilhqot’in Legends ................................................................. 9I. Continuous Tsilhqot’in Presence Throughout the Claim Area for Centuries ....... 11J. Tsilhqot’in Patterns of Occupation: Settlements, Cultivation and SeasonalRounds ............................................................................................................... 12K. Extensive Transportation Network in the Claim Area ......................................... 15L. Exclusive Tsilhqot’in Control of the Claim Area .................................................. 15M. The Trial Decision – Overview ............................................................................ 19N. The “Preliminary Issue” ...................................................................................... 20O. Advisory Opinion on Tsilhqot’in Aboriginal Title in the Claim Area ..................... 21P. Balance of the Claim Area .................................................................................. 23Q. Reconciliation ..................................................................................................... 25R. Plaintiff’s Motion to Amend the Pleadings .......................................................... 25PART 2 – ERRORS IN JUDGMENT ............................................................................. 26Error #1 – Declaration of Aboriginal Title in the Proven Title Area .............................. 26Error #2 – Exclusive Physical Control of the Claim Area ............................................ 26PART 3 – ARGUMENT ................................................................................................. 26Error #1 – Declaration of Aboriginal Title in the Proven Title Area .............................. 26A. Trial Judge’s Reasons on the Preliminary Issue ...................................... 26B. The Plaintiff’s claim included Aboriginal title to portions of the Claim Area................................................................................................................. 28