Tom Isaac was recently quoted in an article titled “Land Claim Fears Take Hold in British Columbia’s Cattle Country,” published by The Western Producer.
Writes Robert Arnason: “When cattle ranchers in British Columbia meet for coffee or beer, one topic dominates the conversation. They might briefly discuss drought, livestock predation and the uncertain future of North America’s free trade deal, but the conversation will quickly return to the No. 1 topic of concern – First Nations’ land claims [including the Cowichan decision] and what they could mean for cattle production in BC.”
That’s because the ruling suggests two parties can own the same piece of land. Says Tom: “According to the decision, private land can coexist with Aboriginal title. But this statement is a source of confusion and uncertainty because both convey exclusive rights to the land, and it is therefore unclear how they can operate concurrently.”