Three in five B.C. residents say a recent court decision to affirm aboriginal land title rights will harm the relationship between indigenous groups and the rest of the province, a new survey suggests.
In the Angus Reid poll released Oct. 30, 60 percent of B.C. residents surveyed said the court ruling would harm the relationship between indigenous groups and the rest of the province. Ten percent said the court decision would not impact the relationship, while 14 percent said it would help relations between indigenous peoples and other residents. Sixteen percent said they were unsure.
The B.C. Supreme Court ruled in August that previous land grants issued by the provincial and federal governments were invalid and violated the land title held by Cowichan Tribes based on historical ownership. The court said the Cowichan Nation had rightful title to approximately 750 acres of land located in Richmond….