founded as several colonies as part of the british empire, the political geography is complicated by the fact that during colonization no treaties or conquests of first nations (the indigenous people) occurred outside of a few small areas of the province. the resulting legal and political system is based upon the british, and later canadian state that evolved from it. at present much of the province is subject to contested title and political rights with first nations. the issue used to be called the indian land question, though the term is no longer used. on-going disputes have included protest, political activity and legal challenges, including the recent supreme court of canada decision recognizing title to one group (tsilhqot'in nation v british columbia).