Latest News

News Release 
July 15, 2020

First Nations Leadership Council Statement on Class Action  Settlement Agreement for Victims of Robert Riley Saunders

(Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ilwətaʔɬ/sel̓ílwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.): The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) extends our support and compassion to the victims of disgraced former social worker Robert Riley Saunders and demands further accountability for the ongoing harm and trauma caused through his actions.

July 13, 2020
Sent via email: [email protected]
Commissioner Camil Dumont Commissioner Dave Demers Commissioner Gwen Giesbrecht Commissioner Tricia Barker Commissioner John Coupar Commissioner John Irwin Commissioner Stuart Mackinnon

Re: Submission on “Parks Control By-law Updates – Temporary Shelter in Parks”

Dear Vancouver Park Board Commissioners,

On behalf of the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association (“BCCLA”), the Union of BC Indian Chiefs (“UBCIC”), and Pivot Legal Society, we are writing to you regarding the Vancouver Park Board’s proposed updates to the Parks Control By-law Section 3(b), Section 10, and Section 11, hereinafter referred to as the “shelter in parks prohibition”, which disallow overnight park usage and the erection of any tents or sheltering structures.

News Release
July 7, 2020

UBCIC Applies to Intervene in Complaint of Systemic Racism in the Healthcare System

((Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ilwətaʔɬ/sel̓ílwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – July 7, 2020) UBCIC has filed an application to intervene in a 2019 Human Rights Complaint from David Dennis that challenges the lawfulness of the Abstinence Policy in British Columbia.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Over Seventy Organizations Call on Vancouver Police Board  and Province of BC to Ban Police Street Checks

July 6, 2020, Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh/Vancouver, BC – Seventy-three local and provincial organizations are calling on the Vancouver Police Board and Province of BC to immediately ban police street checks.

END POLICE STREET CHECKS!

Motion to End Street Checks Going to Vancouver City Council

If you are in Vancouver, there is a motion regarding street checks going to City Council on Tuesday July 7^th. The motion is B2 Ending Street Checks in Vancouver.

News Release
July 2, 2020

Supreme Court of Canada’s Dismissal of Leave to Appeal Coldwater Decision Fails to Uphold Indigenous Title and Rights

((Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ilwətaʔɬ/sel̓ílwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – July 2, 2020)

Today the Supreme Court of Canada dismissed the Squamish Nation, Tsleil-Waututh Nation, and Coldwater Band’s application for leave to appeal the February 4, 2020 Federal Court of Appeal decision Coldwater First Nation v. Canada (Coldwater decision). The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) is deeply disappointed by the court’s decision to deny Indigenous Title and Rights, effectively continuing to greenlight the expansion to the Trans Mountain pipeline (TMX). The ongoing construction of TMX is a violation of Indigenous Title and Rights and poses considerable risk to the environment and climate. The expansion will also increase the number of man camps that directly threaten the safety and security of Indigenous women and girls. On June 13^th, a section of the Trans Mountain pipeline spilled an estimated 150,000 liters of light crude oil near the Sumas pump station, the fourth such spill to occur on the Sumas First Nation’s land in the past 15 years.

NEWS RELEASE
June 25, 2020

FNLC CALLS FOR END TO OPEN-NET PEN SALMON FARMING IN BRITISH COLUMBIA

(Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ilwətaʔɬ/sel̓ílwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) —

The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) is calling for an end to all open-net pen salmon farming in the province. Reports published by fish farm owners Mowi, Cermaq and Grieg, indicated 33% of salmon farms across all regions exceeded government-mandated sea lice limits. In a recent independent study, 94% of sampled juvenile wild salmon migrating through the Discovery Islands were infected with the parasite, which is lethal to the fish.

Press Release
June 25, 2020

Rights Groups Release OPCC Letter Calling into Question Street Checks Review

((Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ilwətaʔɬ/sel̓ílwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – June 25, 2020) BC Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA), Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC), and Hogan’s Alley Society (HAS) are releasing a letter from the BC Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner in response to UBCIC and BCCLA’s complaint regarding “street checks”.