The Nuchatlaht First Nation has secured a partial victory in its ongoing land claim dispute with the British Columbia government. Last week, the B.C. Supreme Court ruled that the Nuchatlaht Nation holds Aboriginal title to 11.33 square kilometers of land on Nootka Island. This marks a significant milestone, as it is only the second time a First Nation has been granted Aboriginal title in British Columbia. The court’s decision comes after a lengthy legal battle that began in 2017. The Nuchatlaht Nation argued that the provincial and federal governments had denied their rights by authorizing logging and dispossessing them of their territory. In its ruling, the court recognized that the Nuchatlaht had established rights to certain portions of their claimed land, but not all of it. This partial victory is a testament to the Nuchatlaht Nation’s resilience and determination in pursuing their land rights. The Nation now plans to appeal the decision to a higher court to press their claims over the full extent of their traditional territory.
Nuchatlaht First Nation Wins Partial Victory in B.C. Supreme Court Land Claim Dispute
