Latest News

January 21, 2026

Joint Statement: B.C.’s Declaration Act Provides a Backstop of Certainty in a World of Chaos

Calls to amend the Declaration Act or appeal recent court decisions would undermine economic certainty, reconciliation, and shared prosperity in British Columbia.

At a time of global instability and uncertainty, people are understandably looking for clarity, certainty, and leadership grounded in shared values. Difficult moments can bring out the best in us—or they can provoke fear-based reactions that risk undoing hard-won progress. Recent trends in British Columbia are cause for concern.

News Release
January 15, 2026

UBCIC Deeply Disappointed with B.C.’s Decision to End Decriminalization Pilot and Calls for Return to a Public Health Approach

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/ Vancouver, B.C. – January 15, 2026) The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) is extremely concerned with the Province of British Columbia’s (B.C.) decision to end its three-year drug decriminalization pilot project, allowing the federal exemption to expire on January 31, 2026.

News Release
December 10, 2025

UBCIC and BCAFN Urge House of Commons to Pass Bill S-2 and Eliminate 2^nd Generation Cut Off

(Lheidli T'enneh Territory/Prince George and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) – The B.C. Assembly of First Nations (BCAFN) and Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) call upon all Members of Parliament to stand with First Nations title and rights holders to pass Bill S-2 “An Act to Amend the Indian Act” (new registration amendments) with amendments to eliminate the second-generation cut-off (s. 6(2) Indian Status) without delay and to implement a one-parent rule.

News Release
December 8, 2025

UBCIC Intervenes in Supreme Court of Canada hearing of Nisga’a Nation v. Malii

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/ Vancouver, B.C. – December 8, 2025) The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) is intervening in this week’s Supreme Court of Canada’s hearing of Nisga’a Nation v Malii to advocate for the many B.C. First Nations who are pursuing or may one day need to pursue an Aboriginal title declaration in court. UBCIC will be opposing the argument by the Nisga’a Nation, B.C. and Canada that First Nations with modern treaties have a blanket right to join and defend any Aboriginal title claim that could have any impact on their treaty rights, no matter how small.

News Release
December 5, 2025

FNLC and BCCLA Celebrate Landmark Decision of the British Columbia Court of Appeal

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) and the BC Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA) congratulate and uplift the Gitxaala and Ehattesaht Nations on today’s landmark victory at the British Columbia Court of Appeal (BCCA). FNLC and BCCLA jointly intervened in the case.

News Release
December 1, 2025

UBCIC Condemns Planned Event over Fears of Promotion of Racist Misinformation about Residential Schools

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/ Vancouver, B.C. – December 1, 2025) Frances Widdowson, Jim McMurtry and Dallas Brodie plan to hold an unsanctioned event on the University of Victoria campus on December 2^nd about unmarked graves at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School. UBCIC is deeply concerned that this event, under the guise of freedom of speech, will promote Residential School denialism and cause further harm to survivors.

News Release
December 1, 2025

Senate and House Must Uphold Vote to Repeal 2nd Generation Cut-Off From the Indian Act

(Lheidli T'enneh Territory/Prince George and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. ) – The B.C. Assembly of First Nations (BCAFN) and Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) celebrate the recent decision by the Standing Senate Committee on Indigenous Peoples (“the Committee”), to amend Bill S-2, An Act to Amend the Indian Act (new registration amendments) to eliminate the second-generation cut-off (s. 6(2) Indian Status) and implement a one-parent rule. The BCAFN and UBCIC jointly call upon all Senators and Members of Parliament to pass these expert amendments without delay and to stand with First Nations to end sex and race-based discrimination in the Indian Act, to uphold our human rights as First Nations peoples and prevent legislated extinction.

November 28, 2025 

FNLC Marks 6^th Anniversary of Declaration Act, Calls for Urgency on Full Implementation

(Xwməθkwəyə̓m (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), səl̓ilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) / Vancouver, B.C.) - November 28, 2025).  Today, The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) reaffirm B.C.’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (Declaration Act) as a landmark commitment to recognizing and upholding First Nations’ inherent title and rights, and jurisdiction. In an increasingly volatile political climate, the FNLC holds up Premier Eby’s government for continuing to restate their commitment to the Declaration Act and adoption and implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UN Declaration) and is ready to move the work forward together as fully and as quickly as possible.