Latest News

News Release
June 24, 2025

UBCIC Acknowledges Historic shíshálh Sentencing as a Step Toward Justice for Sacred Site Desecration

xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/ Vancouver, B.C. – June 24, 2025) On June 16, 2025, there was a historic court sentencing at the shíshálh longhouse. $230,000 in fines were issued for the 2020 disturbance of a sacred burial site containing 49 ancestors. The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) acknowledges this historic sentencing as an important step toward justice while recognizing that no penalty can undo the profound cultural and spiritual harm inflicted.

News Release

June 12, 2025

UBCIC Chiefs Council Unanimously Passes Resolution Opposing Federal Fast-Track Legislation

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/ Vancouver, B.C. – June 12, 2025) The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) has unanimously passed a resolution opposing the recently introduced federal fast-tracking ‘One Canadian Economy’ Bill C-5 which would fast-track large-scale infrastructure and resource projects by allowing federal ministers to bypass environmental reviews, provincial collaboration, and the obligation to obtain First Nations' free, prior, and informed consent.

News Release
June 10, 2025

UBCIC Reiterates Opposition to PRGT Pipeline and Stands in Solidarity with the Gitanyow and Gitxsan People

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/ Vancouver, B.C. – June 9, 2025) The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) is extremely disappointed that the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission (PRGT) fracked pipeline has been granted a substantial start based on an 11-year old environment certificate that expired last fall and despite clear opposition from some local First Nations. The announcement was made June 5.

News Release
June 3, 2025

UBCIC Calls on Prime Minister Carney to Declare Gender-Based Violence a National Epidemic, Six Years after National Inquiry’s Publication

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/ Vancouver, B.C. – June 3, 2025) Today marks six years since the publication of Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and Calls to Justice. Despite Canada’s work to address the crisis of murdered and missing Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit+ people (MMIWG2S+) under the Federal Pathway[1] and MMIWG2S+ National Action Plan, the devastating impacts of gender-based violence and feminicide continue to overwhelm Indigenous communities.

News Release 
May 29, 2025

FNLC Expresses Profound Disappointment with the Passage of Bills 14 and 15

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) Last night, the Provincial legislature passed Bills 14, Renewable Energy Projects (Streamlined Permitting) Act and 15, Infrastructure Projects Act each with a vote count of 47-46 and the Speaker casting the tie-breaking votes. The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) is deeply disappointed with this outcome. Despite overwhelming opposition from First Nations across the province, despite our clearly expressed legal concerns, despite the clear violation of the Province’s own Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act and despite numerous appeals for withdrawal, the Provincial government chose to ram through legislation that fundamentally undermines our rights, titles and threatens the health and well-being of our territories.

News Release

Respect Xinka Self-Determination over Canadian-Owned Mine in Guatemala

May 28^th, 2025

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/ Vancouver, B.C.) The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs and the Xinka Parliament of Guatemala call on the Canadian government and Pan American Silver to respect the Xinka People’s decision seeking the permanent closure of the Escobal mine in accord with their rights to self-determination under the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UN Declaration). On May 8, the Xinka People announced their unequivocal refusal to consent to the mine’s reopening in the culmination of a seven-year, court-mandated process.

Statement

May 27, 2025

On the 4^th Anniversary of the Kamloops Residential School Findings, UBCIC Calls for Residential School History to be Acknowledged and Survivors to be Respected

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/ Vancouver, B.C. – May 27, 2025) Today UBCIC observes the fourth anniversary of the announcement by Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc of approximately 200 potential unmarked graves at the grounds of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School. In the years since, First Nations across the country have engaged in rigorous investigations documenting the archival and archaeological histories of Indian Residential Schools, including the thousands of children who died there.

May 26, 2025

OPEN LETTER: Bills 14 and 15

Dear Premier Eby:

We are writing to raise our serious concerns about communications and representations that were made about Bills 14 and 15 to the First Nations Leadership Council (“FNLC”) at the All Chiefs meeting with you on May 15, 2025. In this meeting you heard directly from dozens of First Nations regarding their opposition to the Bills, many of whom have also sent you related correspondence.