In Brief: Wolastoqey Nations v. New Brunswick and Canada – First Peoples Law
January 23, 2025
What it’s about
A New Brunswick Court confirmed that Aboriginal title can include privately owned land, and that the Crown could be required to use its expropriation powers to return private lands to Indigenous groups.
What happened
In 2021, the Wolastoqey Nations filed a claim for a declaration of Aboriginal title to lands covering more than half of New Brunswick, including lands held privately by commercial forestry companies.
The Province of New Brunswick and the companies asked the Court to strike out the portions of the claim for Aboriginal title over privately held lands.
Read More: https://www.firstpeopleslaw.com/public-education/blog/in-brief-wolastoqey-nations-v-new-brunswick-and-canada