WHAT DOES ABORIGINAL LAND TITLE MEAN FOR YOU (Homeowners or future home owners)

Indigenous Land Ruling Explained (and What It Means for You)

There’s been a lot of chatter this week about a BC Supreme Court ruling that recognized Aboriginal title over part of Richmond. Some headlines made it sound like homeowners could lose their properties — that’s not what’s happening. Here’s a quick breakdown:

You Never Really Own the Land Your Home is On ~ What “Fee Simple” Really Means

When you “own” your home, you actually hold what’s called fee simple title.That means you own the rights to use, sell, lease, and enjoy your property — but the land itself ultimately belongs to the Crown (essentially, the government).So technically, no one in Canada fully owns their land outright — we just own the broadest form of private ownership possible. I wrote an article about this back in August 2024. You can read it here.

What Is Aboriginal Title?

Aboriginal title recognizes that Indigenous peoples occupied and used certain lands long before Canada existed. It’s a constitutionally protected right that gives Indigenous Nations the ability to make decisions about their traditional lands — including how they’re used or managed.

Why the Richmond Ruling Has Everyone Talking

A BC court recently recognized that part of Richmond sits on land where the Cowichan Tribes hold Aboriginal title. That means the Crown’s original grants of fee simple land there may have been improper — but it doesn’t change anything for private homeowners.

No one is losing their house, and property rights and transactions are still valid. This ruling is being appealed and will likely take years to sort out.

What About North and West Vancouver?

Right now, there are no court rulings affecting fee simple land on the North Shore. The Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations have traditional territories here, but that’s different from a formal Aboriginal title declaration. So, there’s no need to worry about your title at this time.

How This Might Affect Us

For now, nothing changes for homeowners. Titles remain valid, and the real estate market keeps rolling. Down the road, you might hear more about negotiations or partnerships between local governments and Indigenous Nations around land use and development — but that’s not a bad thing. It could actually lead to more collaborative, community-driven planning across the Lower Mainland.

If you hear people panicking about “losing their homes,” you can confidently tell them that’s not what this is about.This is a legal correction of history — not a threat to homeownership.