Tsilhqot’in Title Area
On June 26, 2014 the Supreme Court of Canada unanimously ruled that the Tsilhqot’in Nation held aboriginal title to approximately 1,750 square kilometres of their traditional territory. The 2014 decision was the first time aboriginal title had been determined on the land. The case was one of the longest and most expensive in Canadian history. Beginning with the Xeni Gwet’in Declaration in 1989, it had taken the Tsilhqot’in people 25 years.
In the years since the 2014 decision, much effort by the three governments – Tsilhqot’in, British Columbia, Canada – has gone into defining in practical terms what aboriginal title means and how an aboriginal title area should be administered. Many relevant documents can be found at the Tsilhqot’in National Government website.
Map courtesy of and used with permission from TNG.
TIMELINE
1864 Tsilhqot’in / Chilcotin War
1989 Xeni Gwet’in Declaration
1990 Trapline case
1992 Henry’s Crossing roadblock
1997 Delgamuukw decision (aboriginal title continues to exist)
1998 Filing of Xeni Gwet’in Rights and Title Case
2002 – 2007 Xeni Gwet’in / Tsilhqot’in Rights and Trial Case
2007 Vickers decision
2013 Case heard at the Supreme Court of Canada
2014 Title Declared
2016 Nenqay Deni Accord
2019 Gwetsen Nilt’I Pathway Agreement
Resources:
Arno Kopecky. Title fight. Walrus Magazine. July/August 2015.
https://thewalrus.ca/title-fight/ (updated Jan 21 2020)
Nemiah Declaration:
https://www.tsilhqotin.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Nemiah-Declaration_English_Signed.pdf
Supreme Court Decision of Aboriginal Title:
https://www.tsilhqotin.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/SCC-Decsion.pdf
Nenqay Deni Accord:
Tsilhqot’in National Government