Acknowledging Land—But Do We Understand It?

I’ve spoken the words countless times: “We acknowledge that the land on which we gather is the unceded and traditional territories of the Coast Salish peoples, including the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nation.” I’ve also recognized the ancestral claim of the Cowichan Nation to a specific area of land in Richmond, historically a summer gathering place for their people. I say these words at public events, school meetings, and community gatherings. I say them with sincerity. But when the Cowichan Tribes v Canada ruling was released, something shifted. I realized that acknowledgment alone is not enough. Understanding, relationship, and responsibility must follow.

My First Reaction: Relief, Then Reckoning

Like many others, my first instinct was to check the map. I needed to know: Is my land affected? Is my home part of the claim? When I saw that it wasn’t, I felt relief. A quiet exhale. I’m safe. My title is secure. My life won’t be disrupted. But then I paused. That relief unsettled me. Why was my first response to protect what I thought was mine, rather than to understand what had been affirmed? Why did I feel released, rather than responsible? That moment revealed something deeper: even though I say the words of land acknowledgment often, I still carry assumptions about ownership, entitlement, and permanence. I still see land through the lens of possession, not presence.

Cowichan Tribes’ Perspective: Restoration, Not Disruption

For the Cowichan Tribes, this ruling is not about disruption—it’s about restoration. Their legal counsel, David Rosenberg, emphasized that Cowichan is not seeking any remedy that would extinguish fee-simple title. Instead, they envision a future where Aboriginal title is recognized alongside private ownership through respectful negotiation. Cowichan leaders have expressed empathy for affected landowners, acknowledging the emotional and legal complexity of the situation. They’ve also voiced frustration with misinformation and fear-based narratives, urging governments and media to respond with clarity and calm. This ruling affirms Tl’uqtinus as a living memory, a summer gathering site, a sacred relationship with the Fraser River. It’s a recognition of stewardship, not a rejection of community.

What About Those Being Affected?

This ruling lands in real lives. There are homeowners in Richmond who now live with uncertainty. Families who’ve poured their savings into homes near the Fraser River. Businesses that built livelihoods on land now declared “defective in title.” People who feel confused, anxious, and afraid. Their feelings are valid. This ruling does not erase their stories. It does not diminish their care for the land. It does not mean they are villains in a tale of injustice. But it does ask something of all of us: to hold truth and tenderness together. We must affirm the Cowichan people’s rightful title to Tl’uqtinus, a place they never ceded, a river that still remembers them. And we must walk gently with those whose lives are now disrupted. Not by denying the ruling, but by responding with empathy and clarity. This is not a moment for blame. It is a moment for presence.

What Governments Must Do

The ruling includes an 18-month suspension of its declaration to allow for transition. That time must be used wisely. Governments, federal, provincial, and municipal—have a responsibility to negotiate in good faith with Cowichan Tribes to reconcile Aboriginal title with existing land interests. They must provide legal clarity and transitional support for affected residents and businesses. Public education campaigns are needed to explain the ruling and counter misinformation. Local governments like Richmond need funding and policy guidance to navigate land use planning and infrastructure on title lands. Above all, governments must model reconciliation not just in words, but in structural change and shared decision-making. This is not just a legal matter. It’s a social one. It’s about how we live together, how we share space, and how we honor truth.

From Ritual to Relationship

This ruling invites us to deepen our land acknowledgments. To move from recitation to reckoning. To ask: Do I understand the stories beneath my feet? Have I listened to the voices that predate my title? Am I willing to let truth unsettle me, and re-root me? Here is the acknowledgment we now carry: We acknowledge that we live on land that remembers more than we do. We acknowledge that our title is not the only title. We acknowledge that the Cowichan people have returned to a place they never truly left. And we commit to listening, learning, and walking alongside them, not just in word, but in relationship.

If you’re reading this and wondering what to do next, start with presence. Reach out. Ask questions. Attend a dialogue. Read the ruling. Listen to the river. And let your acknowledgment become a doorway, not a destination. Let it lead us from lip service to shared responsibility.