B.C. public grows more cautious on reconciliation after Cowichan court ruling, new poll finds

Nine months after the B.C. Supreme Court ruled in November 2025 that the Cowichan Tribes had established Aboriginal title to more than 5.7 square kilometres of land in Richmond, public support for reconciliation initiatives has noticeably soured, according to a new poll.

The court's decision stated that Aboriginal title is a "prior and senior right" to other property interests, regardless of whether the land in question is public or private. The ruling sparked province-wide debate about Indigenous and property rights.

Almost half of British Columbians (45 per cent) have followed the Cowichan case "very closely" or "moderately closely," with little movement since November. But on several other measures, significant shifts have emerged. More than three in five residents (61 per cent, up nine points since November) now want all negotiations related to Aboriginal title agreements to be paused until the Cowichan case is settled. Majorities now believe fee simple title in private property should always be superior to Aboriginal title (53 per cent, up six points) and say the court's decision erases private property ownership (51 per cent, up six points).

Trust in the Cowichan Tribes' stated intentions has also declined slightly. The proportion of British Columbians who believe the Cowichan Tribes when they say they are not looking to displace anyone from their properties is now 46 per cent, down from 48 per cent in November. More than half of residents (55 per cent, up one point) believe the City of Richmond was right in sending an official letter to property owners in the claimed area, warning that the decision "may compromise the status and validity" of their ownership.

Perhaps most dramatically, views of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) have shifted sharply. Awareness of UNDRIP itself has risen: 47 per cent of residents are now informed about it, up from 35 per cent in November. But increased familiarity has not translated to increased support. Other reconciliation measures are also garnering more doubts. The proportion of British Columbians describing territory acknowledgements as adequate has fallen eight points to 60 per cent since late 2025. Fewer also accept the terminology of non-Indigenous Canadians and permanent residents calling themselves "settlers" (38 per cent, down seven points).