Latest News

News Release
August 7, 2025

UBCIC Denounces Dismissal of Xatśūll First Nation’s Legal Challenge on Mount Polley Mine Expansion

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/ Vancouver, B.C. – August 7, 2025) The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) is deeply disappointed in the B.C. Supreme Court’s decision to dismiss Xatśūll First Nation’s injunction and judicial review regarding the Mount Polley Mine tailings storage expansion.

News Release
August 6, 2025

UBCIC Mourns the Passing of Grand Chief Robert ‘Bob’ Pasco, Respected Nlaka’pamux Leader

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/ Vancouver, B.C. – August 6, 2025) The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) is deeply saddened to mark the passing of Grand Chief Robert ‘Bob’ Pasco, a beloved leader and lifelong advocate for the Nlaka’pamux Nation and Indigenous title and rights, whose decades of unwavering leadership, deep cultural knowledge, and principled commitment to justice left an indelible mark on Indigenous governance in British Columbia.

Statement
July 21, 2025

UBCIC Remembers and Celebrates Jennifer Gibson

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/ Vancouver, B.C. – July 21, 2025) The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) deeply mourns the loss of beloved UBCIC staff member Jennifer Gibson, who passed away on July 10, 2025, after a long and courageous battle with cancer.

News Release
July 18, 2025

After Summit, UBCIC Gravely Concerned with Canada’s Shift Away from Consent and Environmental Protections

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/ Vancouver, B.C. – July 18, 2025) The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) participated in this week’s Canada- First Nations Summit hosted by the federal government on the so-called One Canada Economy Act (Bill C-5) on the traditional, unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinabeg people. While government leaders spoke of collaboration and Indigenous partnership, the voices of Chiefs across the room made it clear: First Nations continue to be excluded from the decision-making processes that affect their lands, rights, and resources.

News Release
June 24, 2025

UBCIC Acknowledges Historic shíshálh Sentencing as a Step Toward Justice for Sacred Site Desecration

xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/ Vancouver, B.C. – June 24, 2025) On June 16, 2025, there was a historic court sentencing at the shíshálh longhouse. $230,000 in fines were issued for the 2020 disturbance of a sacred burial site containing 49 ancestors. The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) acknowledges this historic sentencing as an important step toward justice while recognizing that no penalty can undo the profound cultural and spiritual harm inflicted.

News Release

June 12, 2025

UBCIC Chiefs Council Unanimously Passes Resolution Opposing Federal Fast-Track Legislation

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/ Vancouver, B.C. – June 12, 2025) The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) has unanimously passed a resolution opposing the recently introduced federal fast-tracking ‘One Canadian Economy’ Bill C-5 which would fast-track large-scale infrastructure and resource projects by allowing federal ministers to bypass environmental reviews, provincial collaboration, and the obligation to obtain First Nations' free, prior, and informed consent.

News Release
June 10, 2025

UBCIC Reiterates Opposition to PRGT Pipeline and Stands in Solidarity with the Gitanyow and Gitxsan People

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/ Vancouver, B.C. – June 9, 2025) The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) is extremely disappointed that the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission (PRGT) fracked pipeline has been granted a substantial start based on an 11-year old environment certificate that expired last fall and despite clear opposition from some local First Nations. The announcement was made June 5.

News Release
June 3, 2025

UBCIC Calls on Prime Minister Carney to Declare Gender-Based Violence a National Epidemic, Six Years after National Inquiry’s Publication

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/ Vancouver, B.C. – June 3, 2025) Today marks six years since the publication of Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and Calls to Justice. Despite Canada’s work to address the crisis of murdered and missing Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit+ people (MMIWG2S+) under the Federal Pathway[1] and MMIWG2S+ National Action Plan, the devastating impacts of gender-based violence and feminicide continue to overwhelm Indigenous communities.