British Columbians have become far less supportive of a number of Indigenous reconciliation measures since Fall 2025, while a strong majority remain concerned about the potential effects of the landmark Aboriginal title ruling involving private and public property in southeast Richmond and the Cowichan Tribes, according to a new survey.<\/p>\n
The consequential court ruling made by B.C. Supreme Court judge Justice Barbara Young one year ago last week stated that Aboriginal title is a \u201cprior and senior right\u201d to other property interests, whether the affected land is publicly or privately owned.<\/p>\n
The federal and provincial governments, the City of Richmond, and the Musqueam First Nation and Tsawassen First Nation are appealing that decision. Meanwhile, the Cowichan Tribes have made an appeal of\u00a0 their own, seeking to claim all 1,846 acres they requested in the original court case \u2014 far more than the 740 acres granted by Justice Young.<\/p>\n
In July 2026<\/a>, as the latest development in what will likely be a years-long saga, Justice Young rejected local developer and property owner Montrose Properties\u2019 request to reopen a portion of the case<\/a> and have the company be added as a party in the litigation. According to Montrose Properties, about 300 acres of its privately-owned land \u2014 entailing industrial lands, including major properties with the logistics and warehouse operations for major multinational firms \u2014 are impacted by the ruling, which has created uncertainty for the developer\u2019s ability to finance new construction, enter long-term leases, and rely on its land as security for loans.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is disturbing that private landowners were excluded from this case given the finding and declarations the court ultimately made. We are left with no choice but to do everything we can to protect our rights and investments,\u201d said Ken Low, president and CEO of Montrose Properties, last month.<\/p>\n According to the new survey by Research Co., 69 per cent of respondents said property owners across B.C. should be concerned about the Cowichan Tribes\u2019 ruling consequences, with concern particularly high among people aged 55 and older at 76 per cent and homeowners at 75 per cent. Among renters, a high proportion, 63 per cent, are also concerned. Residents in Metro Vancouver and Southern B.C. are most concerned at 74 per cent and 78 per cent, respectively.<\/p>\n Furthermore, 61 per cent of respondents agreed that all negotiations involving Aboriginal title agreements elsewhere in B.C. should be paused until the Cowichan Tribes case is settled, representing an increase of nine per cent compared to Research Co.\u2019s similar survey in November 2025<\/a>. Another 17 per cent disagreed, while 22 per cent were unsure.<\/p>\n There are an unknown number of Aboriginal title land claims moving through B.C.\u2019s court system, some spanning a decade or more. There have been calls by critics for the BC NDP-led provincial government to publicly disclose the number of Aboriginal title court cases, but so far they have refused.<\/p>\n Some First Nations are pursuing their claims through the formal B.C. Treaty Commission process, while others \u2014 like the Cowichan Tribes \u2014 have gone to court over Aboriginal rights and title, commercial rights, the adequacy of government consultations and accommodations, and compensation for alleged infringements.<\/p>\n