Stanley Tromp
Angry and frightened members of the public flooded Premier David Eby’s email inbox following last August’s controversial Cowichan Tribes court ruling, which recognized aboriginal title over hundreds of acres of private property in a part of Richmond.
Premier David Eby at the 2025 B.C. Cabinet and First Nations Leaders’ Gathering. (BC Gov/Flickr)
The B.C. government and the City of Richmond announced plans to appeal, but that was not enough to soothe citizens.
Public emails sent to the Premier about Justice Barbara Young’s decision were obtained by theBreaker.news under the freedom of information law, although the writers’ names were withheld to protect their privacy. The record shows 177 writers opposed the ruling and urged the Premier to appeal it, while just four supported it.
The opponents were evenly divided into two groups. The first were those writers, many insulting, who berated the very concept of any native land rights and warned of political ruin for the NDP.
The second, more-respectful group supported some aboriginal rights in principle, but feared that change was occurring too much, too fast, and with far too little public consultation.
First group fury
The most extreme critic wrote on Oct. 30, 2025:
“What the fuck did you think would happen with perpetual ‘reconciliation’? Let me be crystal clear for you. If you incompetent jackasses continue to shit the bed with the Indians and if my property is in ANY way threatened, either financially or through title, I (and millions like me) will repel that threat with EXTREME lethal force. This is literally a mountain I will die on.”
Others wrote:
Oct. 29: “Dear Premier Eby, I see you couldn’t muster the courage to face the good people of Richmond whose homes now sit on Cowichan lands thanks to the recent B.C. Supreme Court ruling. What did you think your endless land acknowledgments would result in? And in your utter hypocrisy now to get your AG to file an appeal of the ruling?
Cowichan Tribes-claimed land in Richmond, as seen from Deas Island. (Mackin)
Oct. 29: “You are an architect of this travesty yet could not bother to show up to the town hall meeting last night [Oct 28 in Richmond]. I can’t wait till the Musqueam lay claim to your home in Point Grey, you moron!”
Aug. 11: “Indigenous rights advocates are guilt tripping the government into submission and eroding all trust Canadians have in the system. I doubt that there is any genuine case behind their pursuit of ‘truth and reconciliation’ other than to siphon money into their own pockets.”
Aug. 11: “Stop bending the knee to these groups! They are playing the victim card way too hard and for way too long. I get that my email probably sounds pretty racist right now…. I love indigenous culture! It is the politics that have gotten everyone wound up.”
Nov. 2: “Who is going to buy land in Canada when stupid woke people have declared our land as retribution to Native people, who did nothing to earn it. I am not responsible for colonialism. My family had nothing to do with it. Mortgages are not getting renewed. You have started a civil war.”
Second group serenity
Aug. 12: “This is the first time I have ever written to a government representative. While I support meaningful reconciliation and fair treatment of Indigenous peoples, I’m worried this decision will create more division instead of bringing people together. Constant public messaging that paints non-Indigenous British Columbians as ‘unwelcome settlers’ or ‘colonizers’ does not encourage mutual respect or a shared future.
Aug. 12: “I’m also troubled by the message this sends to our children — that they are invaders in the land they call home. I believe this could damage their sense of belonging and weaken the unity we should be building.
*Aug. 10: “The basis premise of recognizing the rights of indigenous peoples is sound and admirable… Claims of indigenous land title should be vastly reduced coupled with monetary compensation, while complete recognition of their culture becomes an integral part of the B.C. and Canadian heritage. We should all operate under the same rules.”
Oct. 20: “I fully support the recognition and restoration of Indigenous rights and lands. These efforts are vital and long overdue. Yet I believe there must be a way to pursue justice and reconciliation without destabilizing individual homeowners who purchased their properties in good faith. There are vast areas of Crown land in Canada that could be respectfully and meaningfully exchanged to honour Indigenous claims while preserving the security of private citizens.”
Oct. 20: “I fully acknowledge that land was forcibly taken from Indigenous Peoples hundreds of years ago, and that historical wrongs cannot be ignored. However, repeating the act of dispossession today — by stripping citizens of their legally purchased land – does not address the injustices of the past. Instead, it risks creating new injustices and divisions at a time when our province should be striving for unity, progress, and practical solutions.”
Four support letters
Aug. 23: “I am very distressed to hear that the B.C. government is planning on appealing the Supreme Court of B.C.’s ruling in the Cowichan Tribes v. Canada. This is not an act of reconciliation. It is in fact a blatant act of colonial imperialism. You will not be able to count on my vote again unless you drop this appeal.
Aug. 23: “Political and court decisions that rule in favour of First Nation Peoples rights have been consistently and systematically ignored. Such an action would be expected, in my opinion, from the likes of John Rustad and his followers. My future support may have to go to a party that chooses to act on reconciliation rather than just talk about it.”
Aug. 28: “I am writing to you today as a resident of British Columbia to express my strong support for the B.C. government to honour and act upon the recent B.C. Supreme Court ruling. This landmark decision, which recognizes the Cowichan Tribes’ Aboriginal title and fishing rights, is a crucial step forward for justice and reconciliation in our province.”
Oct. 30: “The decision does not imperil the fee simple land rights of all British Columbians. Your government appears to be involved in fearmongering….. Simply put, the provincial government is required to compensate the Cowichan. Leaving people with the impression that these 150 or so land owners in Richmond are going to lose something as a result of this decision seems morally wrong. It pits the people of our province against Indigenous peoples in a harmful way.”
How Eby’s office responded to letters
“Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts following the City of Richmond’s information session. I understand how deeply concerning and uncertain this situation feels. The Province recognizes the significance of this court ruling and the impacts it may have on homeowners. We have appealed the decision and will be seeking a stay on the decision as well.
“Protection of private property rights is critically important. These steps are intended to ensure there is clarity and stability for affected property owners while the legal process unfolds and negotiations progress.
“We are also connecting directly with residents to listen, answer questions and provide up-to-date information as we move forward. Your feedback helps us understand the real-world impacts and ensure your concerns and issues are addressed.”
Click here to read more by Stanley Tromp
Subscribe to theBreaker.news on Substack. Find out how: Click here.
