The Nuchatlaht First Nation has achieved a partial victory in the B.C. Supreme Court in its long-standing land claim dispute with the provincial government. The court has granted Aboriginal title to 11.33 square kilometers of land on Nootka Island, marking the second time a First Nation has been awarded Aboriginal title in the province. The Nuchatlaht Nation plans to appeal the decision to press their claims over the full 201 square kilometers of land on Nootka Island and surrounding islands.
The British Columbia government has introduced landmark legislation formally recognizing the Haida Nation’s Aboriginal title over the archipelago of Haida Gwaii. The agreement marks a significant milestone in the reconciliation process between the province and the Haida people and is the first negotiated deal of its kind in Canada. The legislation establishes a staged transition to Haida jurisdiction, allowing the Nation to exercise greater control over its traditional lands and resources.
