A recent court ruling in the Lower Mainland has confirmed Aboriginal rights and title over a portion of land in Richmond, sparking a wave of misinformation and concerns. The B.C. Supreme Court decision on Aug. 7 declared that the Cowichan Tribes hold Aboriginal title over a section of land along the Fraser River, highlighting issues with Crown and city titles on the property. Additionally, private titles granted by the government were found to infringe unjustifiably on the Cowichan Tribes’ title.
Following the ruling, the City of North Vancouver issued a warning about a fake letter circulating, falsely claiming legal actions by the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) nations affecting properties in North Vancouver. The city promptly clarified that the letter, bearing its letterhead, was fraudulent and urged recipients to disregard it.
In response to the situation, the Quw’utsun Nation criticized political figures like Premier David Eby and Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie for spreading what they deemed as misleading and inflammatory messages. The nation emphasized that the ruling does not challenge the validity of private land titles and reiterated that private property rights remain intact.
Premier Eby announced plans to seek a stay of the ruling’s implementation, seeking clarity from the Court of Appeal. Meanwhile, a recent poll by the Angus Reid Institute revealed that over half of British Columbians are closely following the ruling, with two-thirds expressing concerns about its potential implications.
Shachi Kurl, President of the Angus Reid Institute, highlighted the division in opinions based on political affiliations and property ownership. The Qu’wutsun nation emphasized their commitment to truth and reconciliation, aiming to build a just future in line with British Columbia’s constitutional obligations.