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Crown-Indigenous relations in British Columbia have been badly strained since the BC Supreme Court found, last August, that the Cowichan Nation holds Aboriginal title to a portion of land in Richmond. Some politicians and pundits seized on the Court decision to argue that private property was at risk.
Then, last December, the BC Court of Appeal in Gitxaala v. British Columbia (Chief Gold Commissioner) found that, because of the 2019 UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA), BC and Canadian laws must be interpreted consistently with the UN Declaration. Further controversy ensued, with Premier David Eby threatening to amend, then suspend, sections of DRIPA.
But is private property really at risk? What do the legislation and court judgments actually say? Why have these matters become so politicized?
Premier Eby says that DRIPA is one of the most difficult files that he has ever worked on. Can the next few months of dialogue between the BC Government and First Nations calm things down – and offer a resolution?
Adam Olsen is perfectly positioned to answer these and other questions. When Adam steps up to speak, he brings more than political experience – he carries age-old stories shaped by land, law and leadership. A proud member of the Tsartlip First Nation and former MLA for Saanich North and the Islands, Adam has spent years at the intersection of Indigenous governance and provincial decision-making.
Before entering provincial politics, Adam was deeply involved in First Nations governance and community leadership. His approach is grounded in relationship-building, respect for traditional knowledge, and a commitment to long-term, sustainable decision-making.
From 2017-2024, Adam served as a key voice in the Legislative Assembly on issues such as reconciliation, land use, environment stewardship, and democratic reform.
Today, Adam continues to engage audiences across the province, offering deeply informed insights into how Indigenous and non-Indigenous systems of governance can move forward together, and on what meaningful reconciliation would actually involve.
For a sense of what to expect from this timely and important Forum event, please read Adam’s latest article in The Tyee: https://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2026/04/15/Joseph-Trutch-BC-Indigenous-Policies/