The City of Richmond has filed a Notice of Appeal from the recent BC Supreme Court decision that declared the Cowichan Tribes have aboriginal title to approximately 732 acres of land in south east Richmond, and that aboriginal title takes precedence over fee simple ownership.

"The Court's decision to undermine established fee simple ownership of the properties under the BC Land Title Act within the identified area is unprecedented and compromises the entire land title system in British Columbia," said Mayor Malcolm Brodie. "Property owners in Richmond and throughout the province can no longer rely on their title confirming a fee simple interest as conclusive evidence of absolute ownership of their land. The Court's untenable decision cannot remain unchallenged."

The Provincial Government has already confirmed it will appeal the landmark ruling. The Federal Government, Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, Musqueam Indian Band and Tsawwassen First Nation were also defendants in the court case.