Indigenous jurisdiction against settler colonialism: Andrew Ambers, Charlotte Weston, ‘All Roads Lead to the Crown: Aboriginal Title, Private Property, and Indigenous Legal Orders’, Yellowhead Brief, 194, 2026 | settler colonial studies blog

Indigenous jurisdiction against settler colonialism: Andrew Ambers, Charlotte Weston, ‘All Roads Lead to the Crown: Aboriginal Title, Private Property, and Indigenous Legal Orders’, Yellowhead Brief, 194, 2026

26Aug26

Excerpt: Aboriginal title has recently become the subject of intense national attention—and has attracted widespread misconceptions. Following the decisions in Cowichan Tribes v Canada and Wolastoqey Nation v New Brunswick, public commentary has frequently portrayed Aboriginal title as an immediate threat to private homeowners. In British Columbia, this misconception has included misinformation that has bordered on the absurd, including fake letters purporting to be sent by Indigenous peoples ordering homeowners from their properties, municipal councillors claiming some residents can no longer get home-related insurance, and even the Wall Street Journal arguing the Cowichan Tribes case “threatens billions in real-estate investment.” This public debate often presents Indigenous peoples and private landowners as opposing parties competing for the same land. That framing obscures the role of the Crown, which is responsible for any conflict because it grants private property on lands subject to Aboriginal title.

Filed under: Uncategorized | Closed