(Coast Salish Territory / Vancouver, B.C. – November 6, 2016) The Union of BC Indian Chiefs completely rejects and repudiates the federal Minister of Natural Resources Jim Carr's recent asinine statement that Canada only needs to consult and accommodate the concerns, interests and rights of First Nations regarding the approval of proposed resource development projects such as Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain Expansion project or Enbridge’s Northern Gateway Pipelines project.

Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, President of the UBCIC firmly stated “First Nation's free, prior and informed consent is an integral and fundamental element of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Further, the legal and practical need to secure First Nations consent is featured in Delgamuukw, Haida and the Tsilhqot’in Supreme Court decisions. Consent is part of Canadian law.”

Grand Chief Phillip concluded “Any ill-advised, clumsy or barbaric efforts to deliberately circumvent our inherent Indigenous land rights and violate our Indigenous laws will result in Standing Rock a la Trudeau!”

Media inquiries:
Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, Union of BC Indian Chiefs: (604) 684-0231