How these 4 nations in B.C. advanced Indigenous rights and title through the courts

Wet'suwet'en hereditary Chief Smogelgem, also known as Warner Naziel, remembers attending meetings with his best friend and his best friend's mother alongside their nation as the Delgamuukw case was going through the courts during the 1990s.

"I want you to sit down and listen because this is history unfolding right now," Smogelgem recalls being told, as the Wet'suwet'en Nation discussed the landmark case that was launched by Gitxsan hereditary Chief Delgamuukw , whose English name was Earl Muldoe.

The Gitxsan and Wet'suwet'en pursued the case together, claiming rights and title to 58,000 square kilometres of northwestern B.C. The nations sought both legal ownership of the land and jurisdiction — with the case making its way to the Supreme Court of Canada.

There, on Dec. 11, 1997, it w