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Discussion paper which focuses on the historic James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement (1975), the Inuvialuit Final Agreement (1984), the Yucan Umbrella Final Agreement (1990) and the Nunavut Final Agreement (1993). These agreements have given the indigenous parties legislatively defined freehold and usufructuary rights to areas traditionally occupied and used; financial compensation for land given up; and rights to advise government agencies and share in the making of decisions regarding wildlife conservation and resource development. This Canadian experience of negotiated regional agreements is one approach which indigenous peoples in Australia could consider for new institutional agreements for indigenous participation in environmental decision-making. Includes a list of relevant court cases and a bibliography.