News Release
September 30, 2026
Court Reaffirms Importance of Confronting Residential School Denialism ahead of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/ Vancouver, B.C. – September 30, 2026) The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) recognizes National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day with condemnation of residential school denialism and renewed calls for public education on the history of residential schools, legal protections from denialism, safety and support for survivors.
On September 22, 2026, the Supreme Court of British Columbia issued further reasons in Pat Morton v. Union of BC Indian Chiefs, reaffirming the strong public interest in UBCIC’s well-established mandate to defend residential school survivors and confront residential school denialism.
Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, UBCIC President, stated “This most recent ruling by the Supreme Court of British Columbia is an important acknowledgement of UBCIC’s mandate to support residential school survivors and intergenerational survivors and to publicly speak out against residential school denialism and its harms. In her original decision, the judge found “there is a ‘high public interest’ in protecting the UBCIC’s expression” at issue in that case, and described this expression as counter-speech, which is “speech that contributes to public discourse by countering ignorant or harmful expression”. The judge also found the UBCIC’s expression was participation in political-decision making, which brought it “squarely within the s. 2(b) core values most deserving of protection” under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. It is a reminder that denialism will not be tolerated and signals the collective importance of standing up for what is right and upholding the rights and safety of victims of institutionalized violence.”
“UBCIC is deeply concerned by the rise in residential school denialism and aggressive public display of white supremacy and anti-Indigenous racism, including by elected officials and individuals connected to white nationalist groups,” stated Chief Councillor Linda Innes, UBCIC Vice-President. “Today is a day for reflection, acknowledgement and commemoration of Canada’s legacy of forced assimilation of First Nations. It is fundamental that survivors of residential schools and all First Nations people are guaranteed safety and that Canadians engage in the work of learning and coming to terms with this part of Canadian history and its ongoing legacies. We call on the governments of B.C. and Canada to prioritize implementation the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action and federal legislation to protect against residential school denialism, and anti-Indigenous racism and hate in all its forms.”
Chief Marilyn Slett, UBCIC Secretary-Treasurer, concluded, “We stand with residential school survivors and intergenerational survivors who have endured institutional abuse and have had their testimony and lived experience called into question by denialists. We see this compounding harm and commit to continuing the work of disseminating the history of Canada’s policies of forced assimilation, which were carried out through well-documented dispossession from our lands, seizure of our children, erasure of our languages, culture and systems of governance and our legal extinguishment under the Indian Act. We will continue to adamantly denounce views that seek to downplay or dismiss this crucial piece of Canadian history. UBCIC invites the public to reflect on the significance of this day, on the deep and lasting harms of anti-Indigenous racism, violence and denialism, and to learn about residential schools from credible resources.” (see below)
Credible resources to learn more about residential schools:
• The Truth and Reconciliation Commission Reports and 94 Calls to Action
• UBC Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre
• Office of the Independent Special Interlocutor for Missing Children and Unmarked Graves and Burial Sites associated with Indian Residential Schools Final Report
• Oscar-Nominated documentary Sugarcane
With the understanding that today may be particularly triggering to survivors, their families and loved ones, mental health and cultural support resources can be found below:
First Nations and Inuit Hope for Wellness Help Line and On-line
Counselling Service offers mental health counselling and crisis intervention to Indigenous people across Canada.
Toll-Free: 1-855-242-3310
http://www.hopeforwellness.ca
Indian Residential School Survivors Society
Toll-free: 1-800-721-0066
KUU-US Crisis Line
Toll-Free: 1-800-588-8717
(First Nations and Indigenous specific)
310– Mental Health: 310-6789 (no area code)
Suicide Crisis Line: 1-800-784-2433
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Media inquiries:
Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, President, 250-490-5314
Chief Councillor Linda Innes, Vice-President, 778-884-5663
Chief Marilyn Slett, Secretary-Treasurer, 250-957-7721
UBCIC is an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.
For more information, please visit www.ubcic.bc.ca