āAll B.C. property owners are at risk.ā Thatās not truth. Thatās fear rooted in racism - and itās time we called it what it is.
Over the weekend, Dallas Brodie (who was recently expelled from the BC Conservative Party for racist comments about residential school survivors) took to her new platform, One BC, to stir up alarm over the Cowichan Tribesā landmark Aboriginal title decision.
And itās not just her.
Iāve seen the same narrative circulating on social media including here on LinkedIn, framing the recognition of Indigenous land rights as a threat to every property owner in the province.
This isnāt just misinformation.
Itās part of a long history of using fear to undermine Indigenous rights and pit communities against each other.
Here are the facts:
Court scope: On August 7, 2025, the BC Supreme Court recognized Aboriginal title for the Cowichan Nation over a specific area of Tlāuqtinus village lands on Lulu Island, and certain fishing rights on the Fraser River - not the entire province.
Property rights: Fee simple owners were not parties to the case. Their ownership remains intact.
Due process: Any future impact on private property would require a formal legal process, with owners given the chance to be heard.
Transition period: The court suspended changes for 18 months to allow for orderly, good-faith negotiation - no imposed chaos or forced transfers.
Legal reform: In May 2024, BC passed Bill 13, allowing First Nations to directly acquire, hold, and register fee simple land - removing a discriminatory barrier, not taking anything away from existing owners.
Why this matters:
Affirming Aboriginal title is about dismantling colonial systems that have denied Indigenous sovereignty for generations.
Itās about moving from rhetoric to reconciliation - grounded in truth, respect, and relationship-building.
We can disagree on policy.
We can ask hard questions.
But we cannot let fear and racism define the conversation.
If we want a future rooted in equity and truth, we have to challenge misinformation when we see it - and keep doing the work of decolonization in our laws, our systems, and our relationships.
Over the weekend, Dallas Brodie (who was recently expelled from the BC Conservative Party for racist comments about residential school survivors) took to her new platform, One BC, to stir up alarm over the Cowichan Tribesā landmark Aboriginal title decision.
And itās not just her.
Iāve seen the same narrative circulating on social media including here on LinkedIn, framing the recognition of Indigenous land rights as a threat to every property owner in the province.
This isnāt just misinformation.
Itās part of a long history of using fear to undermine Indigenous rights and pit communities against each other.
Here are the facts:
Court scope: On August 7, 2025, the BC Supreme Court recognized Aboriginal title for the Cowichan Nation over a specific area of Tlāuqtinus village lands on Lulu Island, and certain fishing rights on the Fraser River - not the entire province.
Property rights: Fee simple owners were not parties to the case. Their ownership remains intact.
Due process: Any future impact on private property would require a formal legal process, with owners given the chance to be heard.
Transition period: The court suspended changes for 18 months to allow for orderly, good-faith negotiation - no imposed chaos or forced transfers.
Legal reform: In May 2024, BC passed Bill 13, allowing First Nations to directly acquire, hold, and register fee simple land - removing a discriminatory barrier, not taking anything away from existing owners.
Why this matters:
Affirming Aboriginal title is about dismantling colonial systems that have denied Indigenous sovereignty for generations.
Itās about moving from rhetoric to reconciliation - grounded in truth, respect, and relationship-building.
We can disagree on policy.
We can ask hard questions.
But we cannot let fear and racism define the conversation.
If we want a future rooted in equity and truth, we have to challenge misinformation when we see it - and keep doing the work of decolonization in our laws, our systems, and our relationships.