Final answer:
Section 35 of Canada's Constitution, amended by the Constitution Act, 1982, formally recognized and affirmed the rights of the Aboriginal peoples of Canada.
Step-by-step explanation:
Section 35 of Canada's Constitution was amended by the Constitution Act, 1982 to formally recognize and affirm the existing rights of the Aboriginal peoples of Canada, which include the Indian, Inuit, and Métis peoples. This amendment acknowledged the historical and ongoing presence and rights of indigenous peoples in Canada. It established a constitutional framework that protects First Nations, Inuit, and Métis rights and has had significant legal and political implications. The amendment to Section 35 coincided with a larger process of constitutional amendment that occurred during the patriation of the Canadian Constitution from Britain.