Latest News

News Release
June 21, 2026

Why Our Lands Are Not For Sale: Celebrating Mildred C. Poplar's Book Release on National Indigenous Peoples Day

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/ Vancouver, B.C. – June 21, 2026) As First Nations and all Indigenous Peoples across the country celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day, the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) proudly celebrates the recent release of Why Our Lands are Not For Sale: The Inside Story of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs (Why Our Lands are Not for Sale) by longtime UBCIC advocate and staff member, Mildred C. Poplar. The UBCIC honoured the publication of the book at the June 3, 2026, Chiefs Council meeting held at Shxwhá:y Village (Sto:lo Territory), while also recognizing Millie's decades of service and her invaluable contributions to documenting our collective history and helping us chart the path forward.

New, First Nations-led guidance sets baseline expectations for Reconciliation Action Plans in B.C.

xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/Vancouver, June 19, 2026 — As companies across British Columbia adopt Reconciliation Action Plans (RAPs), a new paper from the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs (UBCIC), developed in collaboration with the Reconciliation and Responsible Investment Institute (RRII) and West Coast Environmental Law (WCEL) sets the baseline expectations for companies to credibly call a plan a “RAP”.

June 17, 2026

The Right Honourable Mark Carney
Prime Minister of Canada

The Honourable Joanne Thompson
Minister of Fisheries

Re: Upholding the 2029 Transition from Open Net-Pen Fish Farms in British Columbia

Dear Prime Minister Carney and Minister Thompson,

The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) writes to urge the Government of Canada to uphold and fully implement the announced 2029 transition away from open net-pen salmon farming in British Columbia waters.

Dear Relatives, Leaders, and Advocates,

On behalf of a group of 6 Indigenous Youth Climate Leaders, we are sharing our updated position paper: "Inheriting the 100-Year Storm: A Youth Vision Against the 'Postage Stamp' Strategy and Provincial Self-Sabotage."

News Release
June 10, 2026

UBCIC Rejects Proposed Major Projects Reforms

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/ Vancouver, B.C. – June 10, 2026) The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) has submitted recommendations to the Government of Canada regarding its engagement on proposed reforms to federal major project review and approval processes.

Local governments in B.C.
Via e-mail only

June 8, 2026

Open Letter: Heritage Conservation Act Transformation Project

Dear local governments in B.C.,

We are writing regarding our collective work to modernize the Heritage Conservation Act (HCA) through the Heritage Conservation Act Transformation Project (HCATP).

News Release
June 4, 2026

B.C. Chiefs Stand with First Nations Women Demanding PM Carney End the Second-Generation Cut-Off

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/ Vancouver, B.C. – June 4, 2026) Chiefs and leaders rallied at the UBCIC Chiefs Council Meeting yesterday urging Prime Minister Carney to meet with Sharon McIvor and First Nations women leaders immediately and to pass Bill S-2 as amended by the Senate without delay. The amended Bill, if passed, will remove remaining sex, race and marital status discrimination, and the second- generation cut-off from the Indian Act.

News Release
May 29, 2026

UBCIC Calls for Principled Reform of the B.C. Treaty Commission Process

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/ Vancouver, B.C. – May 29, 2026) Yesterday, Bill 20, the K’ómoks Treaty Act, passed third reading and progressed through Committee despite sustained opposition and unresolved concerns raised by neighbouring and affected First Nations regarding territorial overlap, failure to obtain consent, and impacts on inherent and constitutionally protected title and rights, and jurisdiction. The Legislature and provincial government ignored dispute resolution processes proposed by neighbouring and affected First Nations based on Indigenous law, and are plowing ahead with the ratification process on the last day of the spring session.