Latest News

News Release  
January 11, 2022 

FNLC Optimistic that Agreements-in-Principle First Real Step in Reforming Discriminatory First Nations Child and Family Services System 

(Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) After more than thirty years of advocacy and litigation, the First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) welcomed last week’s announcement that there has been an Agreement in Principle reached to reform Canada’s First Nations child and family services program, and to compensate the children and families who have been unjustly impacted by this discriminatory program.  

News Release 
January 11, 2022 

UBCIC Mourns Passing of Gitxsan Simgiigyet-Hereditary Chief Delgamuukw and Honours his Monumental Role in the Delgamuukw-Gisday’wa Decision 

(Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – January 11, 2022) The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) sends our heartfelt prayers and condolences to the family, clan, friends, and colleagues of Gitxsan Simgiigyet-Hereditary Chief Delgamuukw, also known as Earl Muldon, who passed away on January 3, 2022.  Delgamuukw was a legendary and passionate advocate, leader, and humanitarian whose name will always be synonymous with the landmark Supreme Court of Canada Delgamuukw-Gisday’wa decision, which confirmed that Wet’suwet’en and Gitxsan Title and Rights have not been extinguished by any colonial government.  

Statement 
December 11, 2021 

UBCIC Celebrates the 24th Anniversary of the SCC’s Historic Delgamuukw-Gisday’wa Decision and Calls on Crown to Uphold 

(Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – December 11, 2021) Today the Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) marks the 24th anniversary of the Supreme Court of Canada’s ground-breaking Delgamuukw-Gisday’wa decision, which confirmed the continuing existence of the Wet’suwet’en and Gitxsan Title and Rights, contrary to provincial claims that their Title, if it had existed, had been extinguished. 

Download PDFNews Release
December 8, 2021

Increasing Cases of Systemic Gender-Based Violence Point to Urgent Need to Implement MMIWG2S+ Calls for Justice

((Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – December 8, 2021) The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) shares its wishes for healing for the family and loved ones of Ashley Marie Simpson. Five years and eight months after she went missing, Ashley’s remains were recently found and her boyfriend of the time, Derek Favell, has been charged with her murder. This news came on December 6, the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, and serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing reality of unchecked systemic gender-based violence.

New mapping shows approved or pending logging permits in at least 50,000 hectares of BC’s target deferral area

Thursday, December 02, 2021

 Stalled old-growth deferral process leaves irreplaceable at-risk forest on the chopping block, some areas already logged

VICTORIA / UNCEDED LEKWUNGEN TERRITORIES — New mapping analysis by the Wilderness Committee shows at least 50,000 hectares — more than four times the area of the City of Vancouver — of the old-growth forest the B.C. government has targeted for deferral has been approved for logging, is pending approval and in some cases has already been logged.

News Release
Dec 1, 2021

First Nations and TAP Member Demand Faster Action and Adequate Resources to Protect Old-Growth Forests

(Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – Dec 1, 2021) Today, First Nations leaders from across B.C. and Technical Advisory Panel member Dr. Rachel Holt called on the provincial government to take faster action to protect threatened old-growth forests and commit the resources necessary to support First Nations through this process with immediate deferrals. Following the government’s announcement of its intention to defer 2.6 million hectares of at-risk old-growth forests, they gave a 30-day deadline upon First Nations to decide on logging deferrals, while themselves taking more than 18 months to reach this point. As this arbitrary and rushed deadline draws to a close, First Nation leaders and experts are criticizing both the process itself and the lack of progress on the ground.

Press Release 
November 30, 2021

FNLC Marks One-Year Anniversary of Release of In Plain Sight – the most challenging work still lies ahead

(Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) marks the one-year anniversary of the release of In Plain Sight, the reports of the independent review of Indigenous-specific racism in BC’s health care system, led by Dr. Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond. In Plain Sight provided seminal and evidence-based insight into the pervasive challenges, trauma, and colonial violence confronting Indigenous peoples due to systemic racism in the BC health care system.

News Release
November 29, 2021

FNLC Calls for Accelerated Implementation of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act on 2-year Anniversary

(Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) Today, the First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) acknowledges the two-year anniversary since British Columbia became the first province in Canada and one of the first jurisdictions in the world to enshrine the human rights of Indigenous peoples in law. Bill 41, the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (Declaration Act), was passed unanimously on November 26, 2019 and became law on November 28.