CLEBC - Courses On Demand

Aboriginal Title Litigation: Cowichan Tribes v. Canada (Attorney General)

Course Date: October 15, 2025

Full Course Materials

Total: 5h 33min

Total Ethics: 1h 1min

Course Introduction and Land Acknowledgement (9:00 – 9:10)

Teresa Sheward — Program Lawyer, CLEBC, Vancouver

David M. Rosenberg, KC — Rosenberg Law, Vancouver
David M. Robbins — Woodward & Co. Lawyers LLP, Victoria

Introduction (9:10 – 9:25)

From the Tsilhqot'in Nation case to the Cowichan Nation case, 11 years. What was left to be decided from the Tsilhqot'in Nation case and what has now been decided in the Cowichan?

the length and complexity of Aboriginal rights civil trials
the Twin Pillars

David M. Rosenberg, KC — Rosenberg Law, Vancouver
David M. Robbins — Woodward & Co. Lawyers LLP, Victoria

Cowichan (Quw’utsun) Nation Aboriginal Title (9:25 – 10:25)

proper title (and rights) holder
sufficient occupation
exclusive occupation
continuity
submerged lands

Candace Charlie — Woodward & Co. Lawyers LLP, Victoria

David M. Rosenberg, KC — Rosenberg Law, Vancouver
David M. Robbins — Woodward & Co. Lawyers LLP, Victoria

BREAK (10:25 – 10:40)

Crown Promise, Appropriation, and Disposition (10:40 – 11:20)

Governor Douglas Promise, 1853
Governor Douglas Appropriation, 1859
Continued Colonial Appropriation, 1859-1871
Continued Constitutional Appropriation: Article 13, BC Terms of Union, 1871
Unauthorized Crown Grants, 1871-1875

Jessica Proudfoot — Woodward & Co. Lawyers LLP, Victoria
David M. Robbins — Woodward & Co. Lawyers LLP, Victoria

Aboriginal Title and Fee Simple Interests (11:20 – 11:50)

extinguishment
displacement
indefeasibility

Jessica Proudfoot — Woodward & Co. Lawyers LLP, Victoria

Statutory and Equitable Defences (11:50 – 12:20)

estoppel
limitations
bona fides purchaser for value
laches

Alexis Giannelia — Woodward & Co. Lawyers LLP, Victoria

Jessica Proudfoot — Woodward & Co. Lawyers LLP, Victoria

LUNCH (12:20 – 1:20)

Infringement and Justification (1:20 – 2:00)

Crown infringement (e.g., by Crown grants of fee simple title)
absence of Crown justification

Josh Boutin — Woodward & Co. Lawyers LLP, Victoria

Alexis Giannelia — Woodward & Co. Lawyers LLP, Victoria

Cowichan (Quw'utsun) Nation Aboriginal Right to Fish the South Arm for Food (2:00 – 2:45)

culturally integral pre-contact practice
continuity: colonial disruption; permission
nature of the Cowichan (Quw'utsun) Nation fishing right

Ian Kennedy — Rosenberg Law, Vancouver
Ava G. Murphy — Woodward & Co. Lawyers LLP, Vancouver

BREAK (2:45 – 3:00)

Declaratory Relief (3:00 – 4:00)

Cowichan (Quw'utsun) Nation Aboriginal title and right
unjustified Crown infringement of the Aboriginal title (e.g., by Crown granted fee simple)
publicly held fee simple is defective and invalid
Crown duties to negotiate reconciliation (e.g., BC re privately held fee simple)

Alexis Giannelia — Woodward & Co. Lawyers LLP, Victoria
Ava G. Murphy — Woodward & Co. Lawyers LLP, Vancouver

David M. Robbins — Woodward & Co. Lawyers LLP, Victoria

Ethical Issues (4:00 – 4:25)