In a case that faced three courts and spanned more than two decades, the Tsilhqot’in First Nation of British Columbia’s interior won an unprecedented Supreme Court of Canada decision last week granting them title to 1,750 square kilometres of land.
Led by Chief Roger Williams of the Xeni Gweti’in people, the Tsilhqot’in were spurred to legal action in the late 80s when the province allowed logging on their traditional territory in spite of their assertion of rights and title. In 1990, the Xeni Gwet’in launched a case for title over their traditional lands, relying on elders to give evidence in (Read more…)