UBCIC Mourns with the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc, Residential School Survivors and all First Nations
News Release
May 27, 2021
UBCIC Mourns with the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc, Residential School Survivors and all First Nations
((Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – May 28, 2021) The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) mourns with the Tk’emlups te Secwépemc, and with all of the families of the children lost to the Kamloops Indian Residential School, upon hearing the announcement by Tk’emlúps that the remains of children had been found buried on the grounds of the former residential school.
Read moreSevered, Discarded Bear Paws Indicate Cruel, Unlawful Poaching that Violates Game Laws and Indigenous Values
Statement
May 26, 2021
Severed, Discarded Bear Paws Indicate Cruel, Unlawful Poaching that Violates Game Laws and Indigenous Values
((Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – May 26, 2021) The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) is appalled and horrified at the gruesome discovery of 80-100 severed bear paws – 20-25 bears in total – near Shuswap Lake on May 23, 2021. The carnage left behind indicates the actions of trophy or commercial poachers who hold a complete lack of respect for wildlife, hunting laws, and the rights of other resource users.
Read moreBC Government must ban fur farming in wake of third COVID-19 outbreak on BC mink farm
May 19, 2021
BC Government must ban fur farming in wake of third COVID-19 outbreak on BC mink farm
First Nations, animal protection groups, epidemiologists call on BC Government to Act with urgency
VANCOUVER--In the wake of a 3rd outbreak of COVID-19 on a factory mink fur farm in British Columbia, the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs (UBCIC), concerned infectious disease specialists, the BC SPCA, the Fur-Bearers, and Humane Society International/Canada are calling on the BC Government to act now to end fur farming.
Read moreFNLC Rejects MNBC’s claim of Aboriginal Rights in British Columbia
News Release
May 19, 2021
FNLC Rejects MNBC’s claim of Aboriginal Rights in British Columbia
(Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) rejects the Métis Nation of British Columbia’s (MNBC) claim of Aboriginal Rights throughout BC, including harvesting rights, and the claim they are an Indigenous governing body in the province with equal access to resources. First Nations Chiefs rejected the Métis assertion of rights outlined in the Métis Nation British Columbia Report: A Tale of Two Nations: Highlighting the Inequities of the Treatment of the Métis in BC, through Chiefs’ resolutions at the BC Assembly of First Nations, First Nations Summit and Union of BC Indian Chiefs assemblies.
Read moreUBCIC Observes International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia
Statement
May 17, 2021
UBCIC Observes International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia
((Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil- Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) May 17, 2021. Today the Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) observes the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia and honours those past and present who have fought to secure universal respect for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersexual, Asexual and Two-Spirited (LGBTQIA2S+) rights and end discrimination based on gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation. UBCIC stands in solidarity with Indigenous and non-Indigenous LGBTQIA2S+ communities whose immense bravery and resilience continues to inspire Indigenous peoples across Turtle Island in their fight for equality.
Read moreRCMP Shoot Tla-o-qui-aht Woman on Mother’s Day Weekend: Indigenous Leadership Furious with Ongoing Police Brutality
News Release
May 11, 2021
RCMP Shoot Tla-o-qui-aht Woman on Mother’s Day Weekend: Indigenous Leadership Furious with Ongoing Police Brutality
(Tla-o-qui-aht Territory and Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) On May 8th, a Tla-o-qui-aht mother of two was shot by the RCMP after they responded to a call for help. The Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation and the First Nations Leadership Council are calling for an immediate, transparent and transformative response which includes the Tla-o-qui-aht community at every step of the way.
Read moreUBCIC Supports UN Committee’s Call on Canada to Protect Mi’kmaq Fishers and Investigate Claims of Racist Violence
Statement
May 10, 2021
UBCIC Supports UN Committee’s Call on Canada to Protect Mi’kmaq Fishers and Investigate Claims of Racist Violence
((Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – May 10, 2021) After reviewing the information submitted to them by Sipekne’katik fishers under their Early Warning and Urgent Action Procedure, the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) has officially called on Canada to investigate the acts of violence, hate, and discrimination that were perpetrated against Mi’kmaq fisher men and women last fall.
Read moreVancouver Police Endanger Indigenous Women and Child on MMIWG Day of Awareness
News Release
May 7, 2021
Vancouver Police Endanger Indigenous Women and Child on MMIWG Day of Awareness
((Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – May 7, 2021) The Coalition on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (“the Coalition”) is appalled that on May 5th, the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG), Vancouver Police willfully and negligently endangered the lives of several Indigenous women, including a mother and her young child.
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