B.C. premier meets with Indigenous leaders amid Cowichan decision tension

The province’s appeal of the B.C. Supreme Court’s Cowichan Tribes land title ruling is expected to loom large as Indigenous leaders meet with Premier David Eby and cabinet ministers starting Tuesday in Vancouver.

It’s for the 10th B.C. Cabinet and First Nations Leaders’ Gathering, an annual event that brings together provincial and First Nations leaders.

This year, the issue on everyone's minds will be the court decision that granted theQuw’utsun (Cowichan) Nation Aboriginal title to between 300 and 324 hectares of land in Richmond.

“It’s a very tense situation that we enter into this meeting with,” said Grand Chief Stewart Phillip with theUnion of British Columbia Indian Chiefs, speaking with CBC News.

The ruling declared Crown and city titles in that area of Richmond invalid, sparking uncertainty among home and business owners, though the Cowichan say their case was never aimed at private landowners.

B.C. Premier David Eby said the province is asking for a stay on 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 reassure people we are going 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, to be held Tuesday and Wednesday, are a crucial opportunity for leaders to clarify their stances.

“We’ll continue advancing our positions that have been held up by the Supreme Court on numerable occasions and continue to seek reasonableness and people’s genuine commitment to reconciliation,” he said.

Phillip says he’s hopeful the discussions will focus on respectful dialogue and reconciliation.

He and Eby, alongside Regional Chief Terry Teegee with the British Columbia Assembly of First Nations and Chief Shana Thomas with the First Nations Summit, are expected to make remarks and take questions from media at 7:30 a.m. PT.