Latest News

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.

Download PDF

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.

News Release
July 28, 2021

Wildfires, Logging, and Climate Change Jeopardize Old Growth: UBCIC Advances Protect Our Elder Trees Declaration

((Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh/ Vancouver, B.C. – July 28, 2021) The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) is calling on the provincial government for immediate action and meaningful engagement with First Nations to protect old-growth forests that, having been pushed to the brink of extinction by years of over-logging and systemic mismanagement, now risk further irreparable destruction as intense wildfires rage across the province.

July 26, 2021

BCCLA Board of Directors
C/o David Fai, President Via Email: [email protected]; [email protected]

Open Letter: BCCLA Board’s Letter to Community and Weak Support for Harsha Walia Validates Racist, Alt-Right Agenda and Proves Misogyny and Discrimination Continue to Silence Indigenous Peoples and their Allies

Dear BC Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA) Board of Directors,

The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) writes to express our extreme disappointment, concern, and alarm over the BCCLA Board President’s letter to the community and the resignation announcement of BCCLA Executive Director, Harsha Walia. Harsha’s tweet was misconstrued and misrepresented as a call to violence despite her repeated statements to the contrary, and rather than stand with her, you issued a letter to the public apologizing for the Tweet. Harsha is a public figure well known for her tireless advocacy and core values of anti-racism, justice, and equality- you hired her for this, and in your “heavy hearts” we are confident that you know she would never call for violence of any kind.