In a determined stand against losing his cherished home, a dedicated farmer in Canada is preparing to defend his property rights from an impending takeover by indigenous tribes. His plight underscores a complex land dispute that has stirred emotions in the Vancouver suburb of Richmond.

Kal Mattu, a lifelong resident of Richmond, passionately addressed city leaders in a meeting on Tuesday evening. He expressed his dismay upon discovering that his property might soon fall under the jurisdiction of the Cowichan Tribes, a situation he is unwilling to accept without contest. “I’ve owned my land long enough to know it’s mine,” Mattu declared to Juno News during the Richmond town hall meeting. “I’m not giving it up without a fight.”

At the heart of this controversy is a recent decision by the British Columbia Supreme Court. In August, the court granted the Cowichan Tribes Aboriginal title over approximately 800 acres of land in Richmond. This landmark ruling invalidated previous private ownership claims by the federal government and the city, sparking significant concern among landowners.

For Mattu, who has called Richmond home for 51 years and operates a thriving blueberry farm valued at $1.6 million CAD ($1.15 million USD), the ruling has had immediate financial repercussions. He revealed that his bank has declined to renew his mortgage following the court’s judgment, adding another layer of uncertainty to his already precarious situation.

The ruling further declared that private ownership by the federal government and city of Richmond would be ‘defective and invalid.’

Mattu, who has lived in Richmond for 51 years and lives on his $1.6 million ($1.15 millions USD) blueberry farm, alleged the bank has now refused to renew his mortgage in wake of the ruling.

‘I paid taxes. I bought my place –– and low and behold, I don’t own my place. It’s not fair,’ he said, adding that he feels as if he has been paying taxes for ‘no reason at all.’

He added that he just wants to ‘keep what I paid for’, is pursuing legal action and believes homeowners should have been better represented during the legal process.

Hardworking farmer and lifelong Richmond resident Kal Mattu appeared before city leaders Tuesday night, outraged after learning his home could soon fall under Cowichan title

Mattu, who has lived in Richmond for 51 years, owns a farm in the impacted Triangle Rd area of Richmond. His property was valued at $1.6 million in 2023, Redfin records show

The August 2025 ruling, which followed what was billed the ‘longest trial in Canada’s history’, awarded the Cowichans ownership of an area the tribes call the Lands of Tl’uqtinus. 

The Lands of Tl’uqtinus refers to the traditional village site located along the Fraser River shoreline that was historically used for trade and fishing.

The area is currently home to private residents, small farms, a golf course and several industrial operations. It consists of land and buildings valued at more than $1.3billion, property analysts said.

The aboriginal title declaration was suspended for 18 months so that the tribes, federal government and city would have the ‘opportunity to make the necessary arrangements.’ 

But locals are frustrated by the ruling and believe the city, its lawyers and leadership left them in the dark throughout the legal process.

Action on the aboriginal title case commenced in March 2014 and the trial began in September 2019. Residents allege they only received formal notice about the case after BC Justice Barbara Fisher issued her ruling in August 2025.

‘You guys knew what was going on. Why did you not reach out to us?’ Mattu asked Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie at Tuesday night’s heated town hall, The Globe & Mail reported.

‘You’re the mayor. You’re supposed to know everything that’s going on in Richmond. I pay my taxes to you. Why did you not reach out to us?’

The British Columbia Supreme Court awarded the Cowichan Tribes an Aboriginal title over roughly 800 acres of land in the city of Richmond (pictured), a suburb of Vancouver, in August

Much of the fallout from the controversy has been aimed at BC Supreme Court Justice Barbara Fisher, (pictured) who reportedly declined to notify affected landowners of the ramifications as the case was being heard

Brodie and city solicitor Anthony Capuccinello Iraci claimed officials asked the court to notify affected homeowners, but the request was rejected.

Capuccinello Iraci argued landowners suffered a ‘tremendous injustice’ and ‘denial of fair process,’ which he said will be highlighted in the city’s appeal.

Steven Lai, a Richmond homeowner with a million-dollar mortgage, organized a protest outside the town hall.

Although Lai’s home is not included in the Cowichan title area, he said the ruling has left him fearful and confused.

‘Could you imagine if I have spent half of my life working hard to pay my mortgage off, not to mention paying for the property taxes, and then only to find out that the property doesn’t belong to me anymore?’ he told Richmond News. 

‘Why should I have spent so much time and money paying off the loans? This would be incredibly unfair to me.’

Although Lai’s property not located in the 800 acres awarded to the tribes, nearly all of British Columbia is unceded tribal land.

The Cowichan tribes have already filed an appeal claiming ownership of further land in the region, meaning his home could potentially be included in a future handover.

The British Columbia Supreme Court in August awarded the Cowichan Tribes an Aboriginal title over roughly 800 acres of land in the Vancouver suburb of Richmond. The Cowichan tribes have already filed an appeal claiming ownership of further land in the region

Much of the fallout from the controversy has been aimed at Justice Fisher, who reportedly declined to notify affected landowners of the ramifications as the case was being heard.

Fisher acknowledged the impact on those affected, but justified it by saying: ‘Sometimes the hardship will be borne by Indigenous peoples and First Nations and sometimes it will be borne by non-Indigenous Canadians.’

But the lawyer representing the Cowichan tribes said his clients are not targeting private property and is allegedly ‘frustrated and disappointed’ with the ‘misinformation’ surrounding the ruling.

Attorney David Rosenberg said the Cowichan ‘stands with the land owners’ and are empathic to them, Construct Connect reported.

He alleged the tribes are frustrated by ‘inactivity’ from the British Columbia government and claims officials need to ‘negotiate honorably’ with the Cowichan on how to reconcile private land that they have now been granted ownership of.

Rosenberg added that if the province negotiates in good faith, the ‘likely outcome’ will be a treaty that recognizes the aboriginal title and also allows private owners to hold fee-simple title.

Chiefs from the First Nations on Vancouver Island also released a statement to the Vancouver Sun on Monday, alleging the response to the aboriginal title is ‘provoking unnecessary fear.’

‘We do not wish to deepen division. We are here to build a just future based on truth and reconciliation. One where British Columbia upholds its constitutional obligations,’ Lyackson First Nation Chief Shana Thomas said.

The BC Supreme Court ruled that issues surrounding titles would need to be resolved through negotiation, litigation or purchase, otherwise the properties would remain under Cowichan title lands. Pictured is a Richmond home that could be affected by the ruling

The Lands of Tl’uqtinus is currently home to private residents, small farms, a golf course and several industrial operations. Pictured is the International Buddhist Temple in Richmond, BC

Chief Pam Jack of the Penelakut Tribe, echoing Thomas’s remark, suggested that private land owners should direct their frustrations at the provincial government.

‘We welcome and anticipate supporting individual landowners making any respectful claims they may have against British Columbia,’ Jack added. 

The Cowichan tribes were displaced from the so-called Lands of Tl’uqtinus in the mid-1800s when the British colonized the area.

British Columbia ultimately became a Canadian province and land in the historical Cowichen territory was sold over the years. 

The tribes wanted to have ownership of the land returned to them, but did not seek for titles of privately held properties to be declared invalid.

The BC Supreme Court, however, ruled in August 2025 decision that granting private property ownership rights would ‘unjustifiably infringe’ on Cowichan Aboriginal title.

The court further ruled that issues surrounding titles would need to be resolved through negotiation, litigation or purchase, otherwise the properties would remain under Cowichan title lands.