Comments by "Tim Chisholm" (@focusedeye) on "Michael Knowles"
channel.
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Here's what my AI query came back with. ## Unceded Land in Canada: Current Status
*Definition and Context*
- Unceded land refers to territories that First Nations never formally surrendered or signed away to the Crown or the Government of Canada through treaties or other legal agreements[8][5][9]. These lands remain under dispute or are recognized by Indigenous peoples as their traditional territory, even if not acknowledged as such by the government.
*Geographic Scope*
- The most significant concentration of unceded land in Canada is in British Columbia. Approximately 95% of British Columbia, including major cities like Vancouver, is on unceded traditional First Nations territory[8][9]. This means that the vast majority of the province was never subject to treaties that transferred land title to the Crown.
- In contrast, most other provinces and territories in Canada are covered by historical treaties (the "Numbered Treaties" and others), where Indigenous groups were compelled—often under duress—to cede their lands to the Crown[6]. However, there are still pockets of unceded land outside British Columbia, most notably in parts of Quebec, the Maritimes, and some areas in Ontario and the North[6].
*Government and First Nations Perspectives*
- The Government of Canada does not officially recognize all unceded lands claimed by First Nations as being outside its jurisdiction. Legal and political processes—such as land claims, modern treaties, and court cases—are ongoing to resolve these disputes[1][2][5][9]. In practice, the government continues to exercise authority over these lands, but Indigenous nations assert their rights and title, leading to ongoing legal and political challenges[5][9].
- First Nations maintain that their rights to unceded lands remain intact, as these lands were never lawfully surrendered. This position is increasingly supported by court decisions and the recognition of Aboriginal title in Canadian law, but the boundaries and extent of these rights are still being defined in legal and political arenas[5][9].
*Key Example: Wet’suwet’en Territory*
- The Wet’suwet’en Nation in northern British Columbia is a prominent example, with 22,000 square kilometres of unceded territory under dispute between hereditary chiefs and the Canadian government[5][9].
## Summary Table: Unceded Land by Region
| Region | Proportion Unceded | Notes |
|-------------------------|--------------------|---------------------------------------------------|
| British Columbia | ~95% | Vast majority unceded; few historical treaties[8][9] |
| Quebec, Maritimes, North| Significant areas | Several regions remain unceded[6] |
| Rest of Canada | Minority | Most land covered by treaties; some exceptions[6] |
## Conclusion
A substantial portion of Canada—especially British Columbia—remains unceded according to First Nations and is recognized as such in many legal and academic contexts[8][9]. The Government of Canada continues to negotiate and settle land claims, but the exact amount of unceded land is not officially quantified, as it is subject to ongoing legal, political, and treaty processes[1][2][5]. The issue remains a central and unresolved aspect of Indigenous–Crown relations in Canada.
Citations:
[1] https://iwgia.org/en/canada/5760-iw-2025-canada.html
[2] https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1723822867181/1723822905131
[3] https://www.minneapolisfed.org/article/2025/economic-implications-of-reaffirming-indigenous-land-rights-lessons-from-canada
[4] https://canadacouncil.ca/commitments/indigenous/land-acknowledgement
[5] https://www.nationalobserver.com/2020/01/24/analysis/what-we-mean-when-we-say-indigenous-land-unceded
[6] https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1ciseg7/is_all_canadian_land_unceded_indigenous_territory/
[7] https://guides.library.ubc.ca/indigenousstudies/statistics
[8] https://opentextbc.ca/indigenizationfoundations/chapter/acknowledging-traditional-territories/
[9] https://www.culturalsurvival.org/news/unceded-land-case-wetsuweten-sovereignty
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Answer from Perplexity: pplx.ai/share
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