Nuchatlaht Aboriginal Title

Nuchatlaht First Nation has been granted a title over 210 square kilometers of territory off the west coast of Vancouver Island.  

A landmark decision that represents the first time in Canadian history a nation has won full Aboriginal title over its entire claim.

A B.C. Supreme Court judge had previously granted the Nuchatlaht Nation title over an 11-kilometre sliver of land on Nootka Island in 2024. 

The latest ruling, handed down by a three-judge Court of Appeal panel Thursday, massively expands that territory to cover more than 40 per cent of the island.

 The nation’s claim area specifically avoided Indian reserves, land held in freehold by persons other than the Crown, land held by Canada, or land claimed by neighbouring First Nations. 

 Nuchatlaht seek to rehabilitate land, build new economy