The province’s appeal of the British Columbia Supreme Court’s Cowichan Tribes’ land title ruling is expected to loom large when Indigenous leaders meet with Premier David Eby and cabinet ministers starting Tuesday in Vancouver.
It’s for the 10th BC Cabinet and First Nations Leaders Meeting, an annual event that brings together provincial and First Nations leaders.
This year, the issue that will be on everyone’s mind will be the court decision that granted the Quw’utsun Nation (Cowichan) Aboriginal title to between 300 and 324 hectares of land in Richmond.
“It is a very tense situation that we come into this meeting,” said Grand Chief Stewart Phillip with the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs, speaking with CBC News.
The ruling declared Crown and city titles in that area of Richmond invalid, creating uncertainty among home and business owners, although the Cowichans say their case was never directed at private property owners.
BC Premier David Eby said the province is requesting a stay of the ruling to give the Court of Appeal time to review it.
“I understand why people are anxious. I would be anxious, but I want to assure you that we are going to go to court,” he said.
He says the province needs time to clarify how the ruling affects both Indigenous and private landowners.
Phillip says the meetings, which will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday, are a crucial opportunity for leaders to clarify their positions.
“We will continue to advance our positions that have been upheld by the Supreme Court on countless occasions and we will continue to seek reasonableness and the people’s genuine commitment to reconciliation,” he said.
Phillip says he is hopeful that discussions will focus on respectful dialogue and reconciliation.
He and Eby, along with Regional Chief Terry Teegee of the British Columbia Assembly of First Nations and Chief Shana Thomas of the First Nations Summit, are expected to make remarks and answer media questions at 7:30 a.m. PT.
