Tsilhqot’in Nation: Aboriginal Title in the Modern Era

Abstract

Aboriginal title ceased to be an academic legal exercise in Canada on 26 June 2014 when the Supreme Court of Canada, by unanimous decision, granted a declaration of Aboriginal title to the Tsilhqot’in Nation (Tsilhqot’in Nation v. British Columbia 2014). A legal declaration of Aboriginal title provides constitutional protection for a unique tenure of land that has its existence in the Tsilhqot’in Nation’s prior occupation and continued use of lands. The Tsilhqot’in Nation successfully established Aboriginal title to approximately 1700 square kilometres of land southwest of Williams Lake, British Columbia, by proving to the Court’s satisfaction that the Nation has a continued deep connection to the lands in question.