Industrial lands that include Canadian Tire and Coca-Cola Canada distribution centres, which fall within the boundaries of a Cowichan Nation Aboriginal title claim, are seen in an aerial view in Richmond, B.C., on Friday, August 22, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
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Jun 30, 2026 | 11:38 AM
VICTORIA — A British Columbia Supreme Court judge has ruled against a company that was trying to reopen a landmark Aboriginal title decision after the original trial lasted more than 500 days.
The court ruled in August that the Cowichan Tribes have Aboriginal title over a portion of Crown, city and private land in Richmond, saying the Crown’s granting of private titles on the land “unjustifiably” infringed on the Cowichan title.
Montrose Properties, the area’s largest landowner, tried to get the case reopened, arguing it was unfairly omitted from the original trial and that its fee simple land interests are directly affected by a declaration of Aboriginal title.
While the Cowichan Tribes did not seek to have private titles invalidated, and are not laying claim to those lands, the case has led to concerns that it puts private property at risk and all parties are appealing the ruling.