Nuchatlaht Nation: Land Back
Fight for rights and title
The territory, or hahoulthee, of the Nuchatlaht Nation is made up of much of the northern part of Nootka Sound and a large part of the rugged and beautiful Nootka Island. With spectacular ancient forests surrounded by rich Pacific coastal waters, this territory was once abundant with wildlife.
But after almost a century of industrial logging, fishing and the forced relocation of Nuchatlaht’s primary village to Vancouver Island by the federal government, the ecological and cultural integrity of Nootka Island is at risk. In 2023, the Nuchatlaht won about five per cent of their title in court — for some of the most sacred and important regions within their territory. However, the fight continues for legal title over the rest of their lands.
Nuchatlaht win Aboriginal Title to part of their territory on Nootka Island
Government opposition at every turn
Despite passing legislation around the rights of Indigenous Peoples and promising to do better, the B.C. government has fought the Nuchatlaht at every turn. For decades, corporations such as Western Forest Products and the B.C. government itself have ignored the Nuchatlaht’s wishes and continue mass resource extraction there.
During the Supreme Court title case, government lawyers fought tooth and nail to deny the nation’s claim. They outrageously claim the Nation “abandoned” its territory on Nootka. This is absurd, given there are written historical records proving Nuchatlaht never “abandoned” their territory. They also claimed the Nation was “too small” and disparate at the point of European contact to be a titleholder.
The rights of Indigenous Nations are inseparably connected to the lands and waters of their territories. It is completely disingenuous for the BC NDP to claim they care about advancing reconciliation while their lawyers actively deny the title in court.
May 2024 court decision recognizing title to a portion of Nuchatlaht claim area
Environmental justice requires system change
Actions speak louder than words. Simply declaring your commitment to reconciliation is not enough. Nuchatlaht's journey to get their land back from colonial occupation has blazed a pathway for other nations to follow. They have raised the bar in terms of legal precedents against all odds.
However, this process highlights the need for reform of a legal system that’s unfortunately still built on the assumption that land belongs to colonial governments by default. It should be the crown that is required to prove its title to lands and waters in B.C., not the other way around.
Vision for their future
Nuchatlaht has a strong and sustainable vision for their lands and waters. Integral to this is the Nation’s Salmon Parks initiative, which seeks to protect critical valleys and honour the complex but delicate dynamic between the marine and old-growth forest ecosystems.
“The wealth here has always been owned by our people,” explains Nuchatlaht House Speaker Archie Little. “If we cut all the trees, we were poor and if we caught all the fish, we were poor — so we managed our territories and we didn't abandon them."
Join the Friends of Nuchatlaht Facebook Page to stay updated. Or watch this video to learn more about the case and increase your own understanding of the fight for Indigenous land rights in Canada.
Stand With Nuchatlaht
After many decades of opposing the overexploitation of its territory by logging companies and fishing fleets, and appealing to be included in management decisions, the Nuchatlaht Nation launched its historic land title case on behalf of their Ha’wilth in 2017. Hearings began in the spring of 2022 and a decision came in late 2024 recognizing the Nation's title to 5 per cent of their lands. Gaining legal title to and ownership of their territory allows the Nuchatlaht to once again take care of their lands and waters as they see fit. Read on to learn more about their journey.
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Check Out More Updates
Nuchatlaht win Aboriginal Title to part of their territory on Nootka Island
Groups celebrating with Nuchatlaht, as First Nation’s Title is recognized in landmark case
Land Back: Nuchatlaht Court Case Updates (Jul 27, 2022)
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