Aboriginal title claim filled by Secwepemc Nation

Elenore Sturko, the independent MLA for the riding of Surrey-Cloverdale, is calling on Premier David Eby and the B.C. NDP-led provincial government to publicly disclose all lawsuits filed by First Nations asserting Aboriginal title over land in the province- particularly where those claims may overlap with existing private property.

Sturko made the call on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, stating that the government has “utterly failed to act in its basic duty to notify British Columbians of litigation that directly impacts their rights.”

She argues that the recent court decision in the Cowichan Tribes v. Canada case is “just the tip of the iceberg” for Aboriginal title claims in B.C.

She pointed specifically to the government’s response to a claim filed by the Secwepemc Nation, noting that the claim “seeks a declaration of Aboriginal title to all or part of the Territory, which Territory includes the City of Kamloops, a number of other municipalities, Sun Peaks Resort, roads, railways, privately owned tenures of many types, including fee simple grants, mineral tenures, and many other Crown granted interests.”

Sturko asserted that the government has remained silent on litigation that has the potential to impact entire communities.

https://vancouver.redfm.ca/mla-sturko-accuses-ndp-of-failing-to-disclose-first-nations-title-claims-over-private-property/

According the official website objectives of  Secwepemc Nation include:

1. Maintain the Stk’emlupsemc relationship to Stk’emlupsemc Territory and the broader Secwepemc Territory as a way to preserve Stk’emlupsemc te Secwepemc Title and Rights.
2. Protect Stk’emlupsemc te Secwepemc Title and Rights – a collective decision making process to develop a high level strategic plan for the Stk’emlupsemc Territory and to develop management regimes for Stk’emlupsemc Territory.
3. Prevent unjustified BC erosion of Stk’emlupsemc to Secwepemc Title and Rights.
4. Develop an oversight process where new interests in the land are being granted by Stk’emlupsemc Te Secwepemc Nation.
5. Ensure that Stk’emlupsemc Te Secwepemc Nation is involved in other matters in the oversight process such as, revenue sharing, fiscal arrangements, consultation and accommodation, mitigation, compensation and strategic negotiation.
6. Develop the content and scope of the inherent Stk’emlupsemc government and jurisdiction – collective decision making processes, chiefs, treaty making with other Indigenous Nations, oral histories that give lessons for governing purposes, other Stk’emlupsemc Legal Traditions, occupation studies, seasonal rounds and micro-eco-system management regimes for animals, birds and plants.

www.stkemplups.ca/objectives/

What is the Secwepemc Nation? According of the official website of an American company Dun& Bradstreet Holding, Inc. the Secwepemc Nation or in full Stk’emlupsemc Te Secwepemc Nation is a private company registered at 334 Chief Alex Thomas Way in Kamloops. D-U-N-S Number is 204 328 017.

https://www.dnb.com/en-ca/smb/duns/duns-lookup-form.html

So, who owns this company? Who are the shareholders? What is the purpose of the company, aside from profit? New world order agenda? Is it another Crown corporation, and are we all just pawns in the game?” Time will tell, but if there is no trasparency there is no trust.

DB