Latest News

September 2, 2021  

First Nations Leaders Outraged by Convicted Killer’s Appeal  on Sentence and Manslaughter Conviction for Death of Cindy Gladue  

(Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) The First Nations Leadership Council, Assembly of First Nations, and Alberta Assembly of First Nations are disgusted and outraged to learn of the appeal filed by convicted killer, Bradley Barton, who was found guilty of manslaughter in the 2011 violent death of Cindy Gladue, a Cree-Metis woman from Alberta. Barton filed an appeal on his conviction and sentence last week in Alberta after being sentenced to 12 ½ years for manslaughter following his second trial. The Crown has also filed an appeal on the grounds that Barton’s sentence was demonstrably unfit, having argued a sentence of 18-20 years would be more appropriate.  

Statement
August 31, 2021

International Overdose Awareness Day: B.C. Must Accelerate Action to End Deadly Opioid Overdose Crisis

((Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – August 31, 2021) The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) observes International Overdose Awareness Day with sadness and compassion, and we send our thoughts and prayers to all those impacted by the intensifying opioid public health emergency that is continuing to devastate and endanger the lives of Indigenous peoples across the province.

News Release
August 20, 2021

UBCIC Calls for End to Surveillance and Intimidation of Tiny House Warriors and Indigenous Land Defenders

((Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – August 20, 2021) The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) is deeply concerned for the safety and human rights of the Tiny House Warriors (THW) and Indigenous land defenders who are being subjected to an escalating regime of surveillance and intimidation for their opposition to the expansion of the Trans Mountain Pipeline (TMX) and the construction of associated work camps in unceded Secwepemc territory.

News Release 

August 17, 2021

FNLC Demands Immediate Climate Action Including End to Fossil Fuel Subsidies following UN “Code Red” Report

(Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) calls upon the governments of Canada and British Columbia to take the escalating and deadly climate emergency seriously and act immediately and swiftly in response to the threat posed by human created climate change. The danger of the current path we are on is highlighted by the recent United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report Climate Change 2021: the Physical Science Basis (the IPCC Report) released last week.

Joint Statement

August 16, 2021

UBCIC and Tk’emlúps te Secwe̓pemc Condemn Malicious

Hate Crimes of Rev. Marcin Mironiuk  

((Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – August 16, 2021) The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) and Tk’emlúps te Secwe̓pemc (TteS) are outraged and deeply disturbed by the malicious anti-Indigenous and anti-Semitic hate speech of Catholic Priest Rev. Marcin Mironiuk, which promoted Indian Residential School and Holocaust denialism during several masses last month– all of which were recorded and posted on his public congregation YouTube channel.

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BC Human Rights Tribunal Allows Union of BC Indian Chiefs Application to Intervene in Racial Profiling and Wrongful Detainment Complaint Against Vancouver Police Department

Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) and Heiltsuk Nation welcome extraordinary depth of Tribunal’s decision to allow intervention to assist in contextualizing the Indigenous experience of policing and the nature of anti‐Indigenous racism and stereotyping.

Statement
August 4, 2021

UBCIC Congratulates Chief Joe Alphonse on his Appointment to the Order of British Columbia

((Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – August 3, 2021) The Union of BC Indian Chiefs would like to express our deepest congratulations to Tl’etinqox Chief Joe Alphonse on his appointment to the Order of British Columbia. Established in 1989, the Order of British Columbia is intended to recognize those who have served with great distinction and represents the highest honour the Province can bestow upon an individual.