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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 2, 2023

BCGEU and UBCIC Announce Partnership to Push Corporate Canada to Operationalize FPIC

The labour union and Indigenous political organization joined forces with the aim of combining their respective expertise to push financial institutions to operationalize FPIC

Vancouver, BC, Musqueam Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Territories - The B.C. General Employees' Union (BCGEU) and the Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) have partnered to engage Canada’s largest public companies on the operationalization of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) when it comes to business decisions that impact the rights of Indigenous peoples. FPIC is an essential principle of international human rights law that recognizes Indigenous peoples' right to make decisions about their lands and territories.

News Release

February 23, 2023

UBCIC Honours Melanie Mark and Calls on BC to Address ‘Torture Chamber’ Conditions in Government

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – February 23, 2023) The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) is honoured to support Hli Haykwhl Ẃii Xsgaak, Melanie Mark, and calls on Premier Eby and the provincial government to investigate the disgraceful and disgusting racist and sexist harassment she faced while in the B.C. legislature.

RE: Allegations that RCMP in Prince George Abused Indigenous Women and Girls

Dear Premier Eby, Minister Farnworth, Minister Mendicino, and Minister Lametti,

The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) and BC First Nations Justice Council (BCFNJC) are appalled and deeply disturbed that there are serious allegations of egregious and violent sexual abuse of Indigenous girls against RCMP officers in Prince George, BC, and that when these allegations were originally made in 2011 they were not investigated, but instead were covered up by authorities. This situation demonstrates failures on countless levels and complete negligence by the RCMP. As families of MMIWG2S+ and survivors marked the February 14th Downtown Eastside Women’s Memorial March and gathered for the Assembly of First Nations National Gathering on MMIWG2S+ in BC last week, it remains clear that the Crown’s lack of response and prioritization of issues of violence against Indigenous women, girls, and gender-diverse people continues to cost lives and leave countless others forever impacted.

Statement
February 21, 2023

 UBCIC Stands with c̓išaaʔatḥ (Tseshaht First Nation) amidst Ceremony Marking Phase I Results of ʔuuʔatumin yaqckʷiimitqin (Doing It for Our Ancestors) Project into the Former Alberni Indian Residential School

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – February 21, 2023). The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) raise our hands to c̓išaaʔatḥ (Tseshaht First Nation) and commend the Nation’s powerful event at the Maht Mahs Centre, rooted firmly in culture, ceremony, and survivor stories. The phase I results of the ʔuuʔatumin yaqckʷiimitqin (Doing It for Our Ancestors) project into the former Alberni Indian Residential School (AIRS) have confirmed horrific survivor-accounts of violence and abuse, including the verified deaths of 67 students, plus 17 geophysical features representing suspected graves from ground investigations.

February 15, 2023

Open Letter: Calling on Canada to Withdraw New, Egregious Informal Access to Information Requirements that Compromise First Nations’ Access to Justice

Dear Ministers Miller and Lametti,

The National Claims Research Directors (NCRD) writes to you urgently regarding new measures being imposed on First Nations claims researchers applying for informal access to records held by Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs (CIRNAC) and Indigenous Services (ISC). It has come to our attention that CIRNAC and ISC’s Privacy Policy Unit has recently introduced new, egregiously inappropriate requirements for gaining informal access to departmentally held records and that these requirements may adversely affect First Nations and compromise their access to justice for the redress of their historical claims.

News Release
February 13, 2023

UBCIC Remembers Billy Two Rivers

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – February 13, 2023) The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) would like to acknowledge the passing of Kahnawà:ke Elder Billy Two Rivers, 87, and extend our most sincere condolences to his family, friends, and community.

News Release 
February 8, 2023

FNLC Congratulates 15 First Nations, Governments of BC and Canada on Announcement of Joint Accomplishments Toward Protecting BC’s North Coast

Lheidli T’enneh Territory, Prince George, BC – On February 5, 2023, at the Fifth International Marine Protected Areas Congress (IMPAC5), 15 First Nations jointly announced two commendable initiatives alongside the provincial and federal governments regarding the protection of the northern third of Canada’s West Coast.

News Release
February 2, 2023

FNLC Supports Manslaughter Charges Against RCMP Officers in Death of Dale Culver

(Xwməθkwəy̓ əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱ wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) supports BC Prosecution Services’ manslaughter charges against two Prince George RCMP officers, Cst. Paul Ste-Marie and Cst. Jean Francois Monette, who were involved in the death of Dale Culver, a First Nations man from northern British Columbia. The FNLC stands with Dale Culver’s family and the Gitxsan and Wet'suwet'en communities who have been struggling for justice and answers for his violent death.