Latest News

News Release
May 12, 2026

United Nations Advises Canada to Stop Assimilatory Effects of the Indian Act; First Nations Echo Calls to End Discrimination and Remove the Second-Generation Cut-off

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/ Vancouver, B.C. – May 12, 2026) - The United Nations Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP) took a significant step last week on May 7, 2026, issuing Technical Advice to Canada regarding implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UN Declaration) and Bill S-2 An Act to amend the Indian Act (new registration entitlements).

News Release
May 5, 2026

UBCIC in Ottawa to Demand End to Sex Discrimination and MMIWG2S+ Crisis after 150 Years of Indian Act Rule

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/ Vancouver, B.C. – May 5, 2026) Chief Marilyn Slett (K̓áwáziɫ), UBCIC Secretary-Treasurer, is in Ottawa today on the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls as a witness before the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs (the Committee) for its study of Bill S-2: An Act to Amend the Indian Act (“Bill S-2”) to urge Canada to end violence against Indigenous women and pass Bill S-2 without further delay.    

News Release
May 4, 2026

Court Affirms Importance of Defending Residential School Survivors and UBCIC’s Work Upholding Truth in Public Discourse

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/ Vancouver, B.C. – May 4, 2026) The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) celebrates the decision of the Supreme Court of British Columbia in Morton v. Union of BC Indian Chiefs, which affirms the critical importance of protecting UBCIC’s advocacy supporting residential school Survivors and addresses harmful misinformation in the public sphere.

News Release
April 24, 2026

UNPFII 2026: UBCIC Women’s Representative Calls for Health Justice and an End to Sex and Race-Based Discrimination

(Lenape Territory/New York, NY – April 24, 2026) This week, the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) is attending the 25th United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) on the theme of “Ensuring Indigenous Peoples’ health, including in the context of conflict.”

News Release
April 22, 2026

UBCIC Supports Calls to Uphold the Title and Rights of all Impacted First Nations Before Advancing Treaty Legislation

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/ Vancouver, B.C. – April 22, 2026) The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) stands in support of Wei Wai Kum First Nation, the Nine Allied Tribes, and Lax Kw’alaams Band in their call for the Province to pause advancement of the K’ómoks and Kitselas treaty bills until outstanding issues are addressed with respect to boundary resolution.

April 19, 2026

An Open Letter to Members of the Legislative Assembly

This week, the B.C. NDP government will try to muster support from MLAs for a bill to suspend parts of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA or “Declaration Act”) and a related Interpretation Act amendment. Premier Eby has confirmed he intends to introduce legislation to suspend critical provisions of DRIPA despite overwhelming opposition from First Nations, and is seeking to build caucus and cross-party support to do so.  Each member is being needlessly forced into a vote by Premier Eby, which will have immediate and lasting consequences for reconciliation and the legal, political and economic stability of this province. We are writing to urge members to oppose this proposed bill.

NEWS RELEASE
April 9, 2026

First Nations Leadership Council Opposes B.C. Government’s Proposal to Suspend DRIPA

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) – The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) opposes the B.C. Government’s proposal to suspend key provisions of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA or “Declaration Act”) and the Interpretation Act, calling it a unilateral betrayal and an abandonment of the Province’s commitment to principled reconciliation, as well as serving to create a climate of uncertainty.

News Release
March 31, 2026

UBCIC Honours the Life and Legacy of qiyəplenəxʷ — Howard E. Grant, O.B.C.

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/ Vancouver, B.C. – March 31, 2026) The Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) joins the Musqueam people and First Nations across these territories in mourning the passing of qiyəplenəxʷ — Howard Edward Grant, and in honouring a life dedicated to uplifting First Nations title, rights, and self-determination. He passed away on March 29, 2026, at the age of 79.