By Peter Christensen

Op-Ed Commentary

When governments embrace chronic rumination—dwelling endlessly on historical wrongs—they develop what psychologists recognize in individuals: a paralysis that masquerades as virtue. British Columbia finds itself trapped in precisely this state, frozen between legitimate Indigenous claims and the practical need for functioning property rights that serve everyone who calls this province home.

I admire entrepreneurial Indigenous leaders who seize opportunity from legal victory. Their success stories deserve celebration. Yet our province needs more than isolated triumphs.

We require a coherent framework for shared governance and clear property rights that serve all British Columbians while respecting legitimate Indigenous interests. Such a framework will not emerge from courtrooms alone. It demands political courage—the kind that builds indivisible interests rather than domestic divisions.

Psychologists tell us we control two things: our actions and our thoughts. There exists a tempting belief that displaying guilt relieves conflict. During quests for self-forgiveness, overt guilt devolves into unproductive negative thinking, what psychologists’ term chronic rumination.

Governments, like individuals, embrace this neurological trap. They develop fears of moving forward, of attempting something new. Remaining stuck on images and stories from the past provides convenient justification for inaction. Continuing to dwell on mistakes keeps them perpetually fresh.

Real self-forgiveness is not about ignoring mistakes but repairing trust, taking responsibility for where we direct attention, and moving forward. Forgiveness concerns the future, not the past. The more authentically we move toward future goals, the less we remain hung up on historical errors. No matter how much handwringing we indulge, guilt alone propels nothing forward.

We need reasonable leaders with solutions guided by transparent paths toward conclusions where all property owners feel confident in indefeasible title. Having provincial leadership arrive after losing court cases due to poorly worded legislation, then bankrolling mortgages, insurance, and investments to potential losers—this is not solution. We cannot bankroll the entire province indefinitely.

In an emotionally charged period, David Eby as Attorney General attempted universal legislation copied from United Nations recommendations. The way the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act was worded left courts no alternative but to question the validity of all land titles across British Columbia. These are not my observations—they represent opinions from the Supreme Court of BC and legal experts like Tom Isaac who headed the BC Treaty Commission and has practiced Aboriginal law for three decades.

Greater national threats now dominate PM Carney’s campaign. I suggested in a previous piece that national sovereignty deserved everyone’s attention but was quickly reminded: if we do not resolve First Nations land title issues now, then when? It was fair commentary, yet it relied heavily on descriptions of our fathers’ sins.

Interestingly, Canada was among few countries that did not initially support the UN Declaration. Stephen Harper’s government voted against it in 2007 primarily due to concerns that “provisions regarding ‘free, prior, and informed consent’ for lands and resources were incompatible with Canada’s Constitution and legal system, potentially creating an Indigenous veto jeopardizing resource development.” Which is precisely where we stand today. Trudeau’s federal Liberals adopted the Declaration wholesale, and Eby as Attorney General moved it unchanged through the B.C. legislature as DRIPA.

Where does this leave us? Premier Eby has remained remarkably quiet on this front, stating his government will amend DRIPA legislation so property owners can have confidence in our Land Title office. Others argue the Act should be repealed rather than tinkered with.

Meanwhile, we remain stuck in provincial chronic rumination where buyer and seller confidence sit on hold and decisions freeze. The path forward requires acknowledging that unanimous passage of poorly drafted legislation does not constitute thoughtful governance. It represents abdication—shifting difficult decisions to courts never designed to build societal frameworks.

What we need now is not more guilt or more court cases. We need political leadership willing to engage in the hard work of building frameworks that respect Indigenous interests while providing certainty for all residents. This means structured negotiations, clear timelines, and transparent processes that do not hold an entire province’s economy hostage to legal uncertainty.

I do not pretend this is simple work. But the alternative—this endless rumination masquerading as progressive policy—serves no one. Not Indigenous communities seeking genuine self-determination. Not families and businesses seeking property certainty. Not municipalities trying to plan infrastructure and services. The time has come to choose: do we continue dwelling on past sins, or do we summon the courage to build something functional for the future?

Real reconciliation demands more than guilt. It demands the hard work of creating shared governance that serves all who live here. That work begins when we stop hiding behind courtrooms and start leading.

– Peter Christensen is a Columbia Valley based writer and poet.

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