Your private property may not be safe from Aboriginal-title court cases
About this episode
The episode discusses the implications of recent court rulings on Aboriginal title and private property rights in Canada.
Confusing messages are the only guarantee after the Cowichan ruling and the Musqueam deal. The August court case confirmed a First Nation band has “title” over B.C. land that belongs to private property owners, while the federal government’s deal confirms Musqueam rights and title over Vancouver. Dwight Newman, a law professor specializing in Indigenous rights, tells Brian that assurances to private property owners that they won’t lose their land only go so far. What might not be targeted today could be tomorrow, he says. They discuss how the court case and government deal, along with the growing power of UNDRIP in Canadian law, only give more power and leverage to First Nations. And not just in B.C., but across Canada. (Recorded March 5, 2026) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
People in this episode
Host: Brian
Guest: Dwight Newman
Topics covered
- Aboriginal title
- private property rights
- Indigenous rights
- court cases
- UNDRIP
- First Nations
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Postmedia
Places: B.C., Vancouver
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