Latest News

Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Sixteenth Session, 17 - 21 July 2023

Item 9: Report Establishing Effective Monitoring Mechanisms for the Implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

Thursday, 20 July 2023

Joint Statement of the Coalition for the Human Rights of Indigenous Peoples (Canada): Grand Council of the Crees (Eeyou Istchee) Cree Nation Government; Amnistie Internationale Canada Francophone; British Columbia Treaty Commission; Canadian Friends Service Committee (Quakers); First Nations Summit; KAIROS (Canada); Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs; Cheryl Knockwood, Chair, Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission; Ellen Gabriel, Kanehsatake Land Defender; Hup-Wil-Lax-A, Kirby Muldoe, Grassroots Human Rights Defender; Lea Nicholas-MacKenzie; Dr. Willie Littlechild, KC, IPC (International Chief for Treaties 6,7and 8)

July 20, 2023

OPEN LETTER: UBCIC Resolution 2023-19 “Call to Strengthen Animal Farming Practices and Address the Significant Environmental Impacts of Factory Farming”

Dear Minister Bibeau and Minister Alexis:

We are writing with respect to Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) Resolution 2023-19 “Call to Strengthen Animal Farming Practices and Address the Significant Environmental Impacts of Factory Farming” which was presented, affirmed, and endorsed unanimously at the UBCIC Chiefs Council on June 8, 2023 (enclosed).

Dear Minister Miller,

The National Claims Research Directors (NCRD) writes to you urgently regarding the severe shortfall in specific claims research funding for the 2023-24 fiscal year. It has come to our attention that in response to its annual call for proposals, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada’s (CIRNAC) Negotiation and Support Directorate (NSD) received 160 applications for specific claims research funding from Claims Research Units (CRUs) and individual First Nations, totaling $30.5 million. CIRNAC’s annual budgetary allocation for specific claims research funding is $12 million, resulting in an $18.5 million shortfall.

New forest surveillance system exposes ongoing old growth logging in British Columbia, amid ongoing calls for transparency

July 20, 2023

Stand.earth Research Group’s ‘Forest Eye’ combines government data with remote sensing and satellite imagery to send the public alerts about recent logging in old growth forests in proposed deferral areas

xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Territories (Vancouver, BC) –  Award-winning researchers launched a bespoke data mapping tool today exposing the state of of old growth logging in British Columbia.

July 12, 2023  

Honourable Steven Guilbeault 
Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada  

Honourable George Heyman 
Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy (BC)  

Open Letter: Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Development Approval Disregards Cumulative Impacts and First Nations Title and Rights  

Dear Minister Guilbeault and Minister Heyman: 

We are writing with respect to the Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) Resolution 2023-37, “Development of Roberts Bank Terminal 2” (RBT2) which was presented, affirmed, and endorsed unanimously at the UBCIC Chiefs Council on June 8, 2023 (enclosed). Resolution 2023-37 calls for an immediate pause of RBT2 development due to its critical and far-reaching impacts on title and rights, and treaty rights of First Nations in BC and the USA, and lack of consideration of cumulative effects.  

July 7, 2023

xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh) / Vancouver, B.C. - This morning,  24 months after Jared Lowndes was killed by the Campbell River RCMP, the family of Jared Lowndes filed a lawsuit with the support of Vancouver lawyer Neil Chantler (Chantler & Company). 

LINK: FILED NOTICE OF CIVIL CLAIM

This lawsuit names the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General, and 4 unnamed RCMP officers, seeking the following damages: general, special, aggravated and punitive damages pursuant to the Family Compensation Act, RSBC 1996, c. 126.

News Release
July 4, 2023

The UBCIC mourns and remembers Pilalt and Stó:lō Matriarch and Cheam leader Siōliya June Quipp

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/ Vancouver, B.C. – July 4, 2023) The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) joins the Pilalt tribe and the Stó:lō Nation in mourning the passing of their matriarch and leader Siōliya June Quipp who will be remembered for her incredible energy and deep commitment to her ancestral ways and the well-being of younger generations.

Statement
June 30, 2023

Canada’s Delays in Implementing Calls for Justice Costing Lives – UBCIC Advocates for Federal MMIWG2S+ Legislation

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/ Vancouver, B.C. – June 30, 2023) Today marks four years since the conclusion of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and Two-Spirit people (MMIWG2S+). Of the 231 Calls for Justice (CFJ), over half have not been started, and only two have been implemented (see CBC Report Card). UBCIC calls for federal legislation to compel Canada to take urgent action to end the MMIWG2S+ crisis.