This week, over 100 homeowners in Richmond, B.C., got a notice no one wants to receive: Mayor Malcolm Brodie warned that due to a recent court decision, the title to their homes may be worthless.

In August, the B.C. Supreme Court ruled in Cowichan Tribes v. Canada that the Cowichan hold Aboriginal title over parts of the Fraser River and Lulu Island in Richmond.

The claim spans 7½ square kilometres and includes homes, farms, commercial properties, port authority property and municipal lands. It puts development, property values and the ability to sell or secure financing at risk — not to mention homeowners’ peace of mind.

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Unlike most of Canada, B.C.’s relationship with its Indigenous population was not founded on treaties, whic

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