In other words, an Aboriginal group is free to use its lands in ways that differ from the ways in which the land was traditionally used. Second, lands held under aboriginal title cannot be used in a manner that is irreconcilable with the fundamental nature of the group's attachment to the land, so that the land may be preserved for use by future generations. In other words, the group may not ruin the land or render it unusable for its original purposes. These two basic principles govern all Aboriginal groups that hold aboriginal title. Nevertheless, it can be seen that the precise application of the second principle will be governed by factors particular to the group, depending on the nature of the group's original attachment to the land.
Aboriginal title is thus a prime example of generic rights.
However, it is not the only one. The aboriginal right to speak a mother tongue is probably also a generic right. The basic structure of the right would be the same in all groups where it arises, even if its precise content varies from linguistic group to group. The aboriginal right of self-government arguably fall into this category as well, as we will see later. Turning now to specific aboriginal rights, we can see that they fall into three groups, depending on their degree of connection with the land.