The Fight Never Ends: Numbers, Colonialism, and Indigenous Land Rights in BC

 The Fight Never Ends: Numbers, Colonialism, and Indigenous Land Rights in BC

In August 2025, a landmark court ruling recognized the Aboriginal title of the Cowichan Nation over lands along the Fraser River in Metro Vancouver. This historic decision affirmed what Indigenous peoples have known since time immemorial — that they hold deep, ancestral connections to these lands, rooted in culture, spirituality, and law. For many, it was a moment of justice long overdue.

But even as Indigenous Nations win these battles in court, the fight is far from over. The British Columbia government has announced it will appeal the decision, a move that reveals how entrenched colonial power remains in legal and political systems. This ongoing resistance to Indigenous sovereignty isn’t limited to courtrooms. It extends into demographics and politics — where shifting population numbers and immigration policies can dilute Indigenous voices and complicate land rights in practice.

The Deep Roots of a Long Fight

Indigenous peoples in BC and across Canada have lived on these lands since time immemorial. Their relationship with the land is not transactional or temporary — it is foundational to identity, culture, and survival. Colonization sought to erase this connection through treaties that often ignored Indigenous rights, policies that dispossessed people of their territories, and systems that denied recognition of Indigenous laws and governance.

Yet despite centuries of this colonial assault, Indigenous Nations have persisted and continue to assert their rights. Recent court rulings — like the Cowichan Nation’s title recognition — mark important milestones in the long struggle for justice and recognition.

The Numbers Game: Demographics as a Tool of Power

But victories in courtrooms tell only part of the story. The broader political and social landscape heavily influences whether Indigenous rights are respected and upheld.

British Columbia has experienced significant demographic changes over the past decades, fueled largely by immigration. South Asian communities, among others, have grown substantially in urban areas like Metro Vancouver. Many newcomers are highly skilled professionals, including lawyers and government workers, who influence the legal and political systems.

While immigration enriches BC’s cultural tapestry, it also shifts political power and representation. When the number of Indigenous peoples relative to other groups is small, their collective influence on elections, policy decisions, and legal battles can be diminished.

This tactic of “padding” numbers is not unique to politics. Similar strategies have been alleged in workplaces — for example, Amazon is accused of hiring extra staff to dilute union organizing efforts. In both cases, it’s about controlling influence by changing the makeup of the people involved.

When population numbers become a tool to sideline Indigenous sovereignty and weaken their land claims, it perpetuates a modern form of colonialism — one that hides behind statistics and bureaucracy instead of outright conquest.

Why the Fight Never Ends

Legal victories like the Cowichan Nation’s Aboriginal title ruling are essential. They affirm Indigenous rights and provide a basis for sovereignty and self-determination. But the fight never truly ends because structural barriers remain: governments can and do appeal decisions; economic pressures to develop land persist; political will to respect Indigenous governance fluctuates.

Moreover, the slow pace of justice and ongoing demographic changes mean Indigenous communities must keep resisting on multiple fronts — legal, political, social, and cultural. The fight is relentless, but so is Indigenous resilience.

A Call to Awareness and Action

Understanding how numbers, demographics, and colonial strategies intersect is critical to supporting Indigenous rights. It’s not just about court rulings or treaties; it’s about recognizing how power works in society today.

We must hold governments accountable when they appeal rightful land claims and challenge tactics that undermine Indigenous sovereignty. Solidarity means amplifying Indigenous voices, educating ourselves about these ongoing struggles, and pushing for systemic change that goes beyond symbolic victories.

The fight for Indigenous land rights and justice is far from over — even when the law seems to be on their side. Colonialism adapts, but so do those who resist.