Cowichan’s lawyer says B.C. must reconcile property rights with land claim ruling

By Canadian Press on August 11, 2025.

The lawyer representing the Cowichan Nation in British Columbia says the provincial government must reconcile private property rights with a landmark court ruling that the nation has Aboriginal title over land on the Fraser River in Metro Vancouver.

The BC Supreme Court ruled last week that the fee-simple ownership and interests in the lands, held by Canada, Richmond and the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, “are defective and invalid,” but did not make a similar ruling for privately owned property.

However, the ruling says B.C. owes a duty to the Cowichan to negotiate in good faith the reconciliation of Crown-granted private property on a portion of Lulu Island in Richmond, land that Cowichan ancestors used as a summer home.

Lawyer David Robbins says the nation is looking forward to engaging with Premier David Eby and the attorney general of British Columbia on the ruling.

Eby has previously said his government is reviewing the decision for a possible appeal and will also seek to resolve the issue by negotiating with all nations involved.

Chief Cindy Daniels of the Cowichan Tribes says the nation has long held the objective to recover and restore its village and surrounding lands, re-establish permanent residence and river access, and re-establish cultural practices in the area.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 11, 2025

Ashley Joannou, The Canadian Press