Latest News

News Release 
October 20, 2025

FNLC Appalled by John Rustad’s Alarmist Rhetoric Respecting Aboriginal Title and Fee Simple Private Ownership

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) is deeply disturbed and angered by B.C. Conservative Party leader John Rustad’s letter to Premier David Eby in which he calls for an immediate pause to all negotiations between the Province of British Columbia and First Nations in response to the BC Supreme Court’s recent declaration of Cowichan Aboriginal title, and frames First Nations’ inherent and constitutional rights to their lands as a threat to British Columbia’s legal, social, and economic stability. The FNLC is similarly disturbed by Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie’s alarmist commentary and related communication delivered to certain Richmond residents warning that their property’s title could be negatively affected by the Court’s decision.

News Release

October 7, 2025

UBCIC Celebrates Grand Chief Stewart Phillip’s Historic Acclamation to a Tenth Consecutive 3-Year Term as President

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/ Vancouver, B.C. – October 7, 2025) The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) proudly celebrates Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, SnPink’tn, Sylix Nation, who has been re-elected by acclamation to an unprecedented tenth consecutive three-year term as President. At the opening of the UBCIC 57^th Annual General Assembly this morning, Grand Chief Phillip was drummed in and honoured by the Chiefs Council, family and community members, and supporters.

News Release
October 1, 2025

Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs Opposes New Oil Pipeline Proposals to B.C.’s North Coast

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/ Vancouver, B.C. – October 1, 2025) The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) is responding to reports that the Alberta government will head an application for a new oil pipeline to the North Coast of B.C. alongside Enbridge Inc., South Bow Corp, and the Trans Mountain Corp. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith stated that she expects to see a new bitumen pipeline on the federal government’s next list of major projects approved under recently passed federal fast-tracking legislation, One Canadian Economy Act, comprised of two separate pieces of legislation that were enacted together, the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act and the Building Canada Act.

News Release
September 30, 2025

UBCIC Calls for Commemoration, Education and Healing on National Day of Truth and Reconciliation

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/ Vancouver, B.C. – September 30, 2025) The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) recognizes National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day with renewed calls to support survivors’ healing and for provincial and federal government commitments to uphold the truth and promote understanding of Residential Schools in Canada.

Statement
September 24, 2025

UBCIC Deeply Concerned with Ostrich Farm Cull

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/ Vancouver, B.C. – September 24, 2025) The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) is aware of conflicting reports regarding ongoing activities at the Universal Ostrich Farm in Edgewood, B.C. including plans for a highly contentious and brutal cull of ostriches in response to avian influenza. UBCIC is aware that local First Nations have not been consulted or engaged in decision making.

News Release 

September 24, 2025

First Nations Leadership Council Urges Ongoing Engagement and Support on Transformation of the Heritage Conservation Act

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) is reaffirming its strong support for updating the Heritage Conservation Act (HCA), a long-overdue modernization of outdated legislation that has not been substantively amended since 1996.

News Release

September 18, 2025

UBCIC Concerned that Approval of Ksi Lisims LNG Project Ignores Full Environmental Impacts, Lacks Consent

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/ Vancouver, B.C. – September 18, 2025) On Monday September 15, the Province of B.C. and Canada announced they had granted an environmental assessment certificate for the Ksi Lisims LNG project despite the devastating climate impacts and strong opposition from neighbouring First Nations whose consent the Province failed to secure.

News Release 
Sept 16, 2025

First Nations Leadership Council Calls on the Province to Obtain Free, Prior and Informed Consent Before Granting Land Tenures

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) is calling on the Province to consult and cooperate with potentially affected First Nations in order to obtain their free, prior, and informed consent before decisions are made on Crown Land Application #1412379. Crown Land Application #1412379, submitted by the U.S.-based National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), seeks 77 “Crown land” tenures along the West Coast of British Columbia, encompassing First Nations’ ancient village sites