Latest News

News Release 
October 7, 2021  

Boost Vaccination Rates, Save Lives: UBCIC Urges First Nations and British Columbians to Get Vaccinated  

(Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. October 7, 2021) The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) is issuing an urgent and critical call for First Nations and all British Columbians to get their full COVID-19 vaccinations immediately. Lagging vaccination rates and unvaccinated individuals are continuing to cause COVID-19 infection and hospitalizations rates to climb, placing enormous, preventable stress upon hospitals and health-care resources, and threatening the lives of those who are unable to be vaccinated, including children under 12.

News Release

October 4, 2021

Vigil for MMIWG2S: Holding Space on National Day of Action to Empower and Support Families Seeking Justice

(Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – October 4, 2021) To mark the National Day of Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirited people (MMIWG2S), the Indigenous Women’s Council will be holding a safe, socially distanced vigil on October 4, 2021, at Vancouver City Hall. The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) is honored to support the vigil, which will provide healing space for Indigenous women, girls, two-spirited individuals, and allies to come together in solidarity and strengthen their unwavering resolve to hold Canada accountable for the epidemic of violence founded in centuries of cultural genocide and institutionalized racism. UBCIC is proud to have Kukpi7 Judy Wilson, UBCIC Secretary-Treasurer, speaking and supporting family members at the vigil, and UBCIC continues to be thankful for the immense work and resilience of all participants and organizers of the event.

Statement
September 30, 2021

National Day of Truth and Reconciliation is a Call to Action: More Education on Residential Schools and More Supports Needed for Survivors and Indigenous Communities

(Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – September 30, 2021) Today the Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) observes the first National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. UBCIC commemorates the fearless leadership and tireless efforts by Indian residential school Survivors and First Nations like Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc (TteS) who continue to seek justice, truth, and accountability for the missing and unidentified Indigenous children who never made it home. On this first National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, UBCIC encourages British Columbians and Canadians to reflect on the truth of the Survivors’ experiences, and to acknowledge that this was a genocide, involving the forced removal of children from our families and Nations, placing more than 150,000 children in those institutions to try to “take the Indian out of the child.” Today is not only a day of remembering the truth and honouring the experiences of Survivors, but a time to be steadfast in our values that every child matters.

News Release
September 29, 2021

HUGE WIN FOR FIRST NATIONS KIDS! FEDERAL COURT DISMISSES CANADA’S APPEALS

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

The First Nations Leadership Council welcomes the decision of the Federal Court today that resoundingly dismissed Canada’s appeals of two of the orders from the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (CHRT) in the case Canada (Attorney General) v. First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada. Canada sought to challenge the findings of discrimination against First Nations children and families under federal policies that caused children to be removed and underfunded services to First Nations communities. The case stems back to 2006 when the human rights violations against First Nations children, families and communities was taken to the Human Rights Commission.

Statement
September 29, 2021

UBCIC Marks the Passing of Beloved Kwagu’ł Chief and Elder Rupert Wilson Sr.

(Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – September 29, 2021) It was not so long ago when Chief Rupert Wilson Sr. stood before representatives of the BC Government and stated, matter of fact, “You are killing us with words” while “you rob us of our resources.” In remembering his profound statements, and understanding how they continue to resonate today, it is with deep sadness that the Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) marks the passing of Wawaxalagilaxw, Chief and Elder Rupert Wilson Sr. of the Kwakiutl (Kwagu’ł) First Nation.

September 28, 2021
Secretary Deb Haaland
U.S. Department of the Interior
1849 C Street, N.W.
Washington DC 20240
Via Email: c/o [email protected];
[email protected]

Open Letter: Upholding the Historic Wolf Treaty and Vacating the Trump Rule to Delist the Gray Wolf (Canis lupus) from the U.S. Federal Endangered Species Act (ESA)

It is a guiding principle of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs (“UBCIC”) that our Aboriginal Title and Rights are inherent – a gift and responsibility given by the Creator to our Peoples, together with the laws to carry out these responsibilities. The UBCIC’s mandate is to work towards the implementation, exercise and recognition of our inherent Title, Rights and Treaty Rights and to protect of our Lands and Waters, through the exercise, and implementation of our own laws and jurisdiction.

News Release 
September 28, 2021

JUSTICE DENIED: FIRST NATIONS LEADERSHIP COUNCIL FRUSTRATED TO HEAR CROWN NEGOTIATED SAUNDERS PLEA DEAL

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

The First Nations Leadership Council is frustrated to learn of the plea deal struck by Robert Riley Saunders, the Kelowna man who stole thousands of dollars from vulnerable youth in government care while he worked as a social worker for the Ministry of Children and Family Development with a falsified social work degree. Saunders was arrested in December 2020 after being in hiding for several months and was charged with a total of 13 charges for fraud, theft, breach of trust and for uttering a forged document. Saunders pled guilty today to three of the thirteen total charges: breach of trust, forgery and one count of fraud.

Press Release

September 21, 2021

Unnecessary, Expensive Election was a Distraction that Sidelined Indigenous Issues and Reaped Minimal Change

((Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – September 21, 2021) The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) is disappointed but unsurprised that the most expensive federal election to date led to low voter turnout and another minority Liberal Government. The misplaced arrogance of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau did not result in the majority he wanted – instead an under-performance at the polls maintained the status quo and proved that voters, who are already preoccupied and burdened with the challenges of a pandemic, are dissatisfied and exhausted by unnecessary political powerplays.