Canada's federal government recently signed three agreements with the Musqueam First Nation that, among other things, recognize the Musqueam People's Aboriginal title to their traditional territory which includes most of Vancouver.

For that reason, it's surprising that rather than making headlines immediately, most media outlets didn't report on the agreements until a week after Ottawa's announcement. The situation was reminiscent of how the Cowichan case in the summer of 2025 didn't make news until the City of Richmond started informing residents in October that it might affect their fee simple title, a term referring to ownership of full, permanent property rights.

Given how many residents not only in Richmond and Vancouver, but also the rest of British Columbia, have responded with concern about what this ruling means including some who blame reconciliation efforts the delay in informing the public is less than ideal and only causes further anxiety.

It hasn't helped that when asked in the B.C. legislature, provincial government officials simply responded they weren't involved in reaching the three agreements.

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