B.C. First Nation calls Premier Eby’s comments ‘deliberately inflammatory’

The Cowichan Nation is slamming the premier and the mayor of Richmond for comments on a precedent-setting case surrounding land on the Fraser River.

The Quw’utsun Nation says public comments by British Columbia Premier David Eby and other politicians about its groundbreaking Aboriginal title case in Richmond, B.C., are “at best, misleading, and at worst, deliberately inflammatory,” adding that the ruling does not “erase” public property.

A statement issued Monday by the nation, whose members include the Cowichan Tribes, also calls the B.C. government and the City of Richmond’s recent messaging “negative and erroneous,” saying it was stirring up “unnecessary fears” among private landowners.

The Aug. 7 B.C. Supreme Court ruling says the tribes have Aboriginal title over a portion of land on the Fraser River, that Crown and city titles on the land are defective and invalid, and the granting of private titles by the government unjustifiably infringed on Cowichan title.

Eby said last week that anxiety among homeowners in Richmond is “totally reasonable,” and the government was working closely with the City of Richmond to appeal against the decision, which Mayor Malcolm Brodie said in a letter to private title holders “may compromise” their ownership.

The nation says in its statement that the government’s approach to the issue since the ruling is inconsistent with the court’s decision and is contrary to reconciliation.

Justice Barbara Young suspended her declaration about the granting of private titles being an unjustifiable infringement for 18 months, so the Cowichan, Canada, and Richmond “have the opportunity to make the necessary arrangements.”

Eby said Monday that he understood the needs and desires of Cowichan Tribes to go to court to get their rights recognized, and the province supported their right to do so.

“We can also simultaneously disagree with the decision that Justice Young made,” Eby said at an unrelated press conference.

Eby said the ruling created “significant uncertainty,” leaving homeowners to figure out the current state of their ownership rights.

“It needs to be clarified as quickly as possible, which is why we were first out of the gate on the appeal on this, to get to the Court of Appeal, to get clarification about this decision,” he said.

Quw’utsun Nation Chief Cindy Daniels of the Cowichan Tribes said in the statement that the nation intentionally didn’t bring the case against any individual private landowners, and also didn’t seek to invalidate their land titles.

Daniels said the ruling made clear it was the B.C. government’s job to advance reconciliation in the circumstances.

The nation said that if any individual private titleholders were concerned about suffering a loss, they should go after the province, rather than getting involved in the nation’s case.

Brodie said the statement from the nation left him “bewildered” and “surprised.”

In an interview Monday, Brodie said the lawyer representing the nation told the court that “Aboriginal title is not symbolic, it’s a full ownership interest.”

“At a later point, they said, ‘Any disposition of land, whether by the province or a private party, would require Cowichan’s agreement.’ So, the kind of ownership that they’re looking for is very important. It encompasses some of the basic rights that you have as a landowner,” Brodie said.

The mayor said he believes the court decision has to be overturned.

“It potentially undermines the entire land title system that we have had in the province for over a century,” he said.

Brodie’s letter went to more than 150 property owners, warning residents that the “the Court has declared aboriginal title to your property which may compromise the status and validity of your ownership.”

The City of Richmond will host a public information session with landowners on the Cowichan Tribes case on Tuesday at the Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel.

Brodie said Tuesday night’s meeting is open to the public and aims to let affected landowners learn more about the situation. He said landowners will also have a chance to make brief remarks and ask questions.

Three Richmond-area B.C. Conservative MLAs called on Eby to restore “confidence and clarity” for homeowners and businesses in the community.

Steve Kooner, MLA for Richmond-Queensborough and the official opposition critic for Attorney General, said the uncertainty over the Cowichan ruling not only threatened homeowners but also put jobs, investments and entire communities at risk.

“When confidence in property rights is shaken, everything else follows: from housing to industry to the economy itself. British Columbians need the premier to act now and provide clarity that protects both property owners and the rule of law,” Kooner said in a statement on Monday.

This report by Nono Shen, The Canadian Press, was first published Oct. 27, 2025.