UBCIC Strongly Condemns Punitive Sentencing and Criminalization of Tsleil-Waututh Land Defender Will George
News Release
May 11, 2022
UBCIC Strongly Condemns Punitive Sentencing and Criminalization of Tsleil-Waututh Land Defender Will George
(Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – May 11, 2022) The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) has learned of the BC Supreme Court’s sentencing of Tsleil-Waututh Nation land defender Will George to 28 days of incarceration for contempt of court. UBCIC condemns the application of such a sentence in the strongest possible terms. The injunction granted to Trans Mountain Pipeline ULC (Trans Mountain) concerns areas which the Tsleil-Waututh Nation has never ceded, released, or surrendered to the Crown, and activities that the Nation has not provided their free, prior, and informed consent for Trans Mountain to carry out within their territory.
Read moreUBCIC Applauds Settlement Between Maxwell Johnson and BMO; Launches Review of Discrimination against First Nations in BC when using Status Cards
News Release
May 5, 2022
UBCIC Applauds Settlement Between Maxwell Johnson and BMO; Launches Review of Discrimination against First Nations in BC when using Status Cards
(Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/ Vancouver, B.C. – May 5, 2022) The Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) joins the Heiltsuk Nation and applauds the settlement announced today between Maxwell Johnson and his 14-year-old granddaughter and the Bank of Montreal. BMO staff called Vancouver Police on Maxwell and his granddaughter when Maxwell went to make a deposit, leading to them being handcuffed, detailed and humiliated. Mr. Johnson and his granddaughter’s complaint against the Vancouver Police Department at the BC Human Rights Tribunal remains ongoing.
Read moreNational Day of Awareness for MMIWG2S+ Casts Light on Intersections between Gender-Based Violence and Human-Caused Climate Crisis
News Release
May 5, 2022
National Day of Awareness for MMIWG2S+ Casts Light on Intersections between Gender-Based Violence and Human-Caused Climate Crisis
((Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – May 5th, 2022). The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) marks the National Day of Awareness for MMIWG2S+ with a call to BC and Canada to uphold the sacred role of Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit+ people and end colonial violence enmeshed in extractive industries fueling the climate crisis and gender-based violence.
Read moreUBCIC Statement of Condolence on the Passing of Philomena (Phyllis) Joseph
News Release
May 2, 2022
UBCIC Statement of Condolence on the Passing of Philomena (Phyllis) Joseph
((Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – May 2, 2022) It is with shock and profound sadness that the Union of BC Indian Chiefs Executive has learned of the passing of Philomena Joseph on April 27th at the age of 66. A former receptionist at the UBCIC, Phyllis, as she was known to family, her many friends, and colleagues, was a remarkable person whose warmth, kindness, and humour elevated the spirits of everyone who had the good fortune to be in her company.
Read moreBCFNJC and FNLC applaud Final Report of the Special Committee on Reforming the Police Act
JOINT MEDIA RELEASE
BCFNJC and FNLC applaud Final Report of the Special Committee on Reforming the Police Act
Now is time to push forward public safety and policing through self-determination
tkwəɬniwt (Westbank), Okanagan Syilx Territory, BC [April 29, 2022]: The BC First Nations Justice Council (BCFNJC), united with the First Nations Summit, the BC Assembly of First Nations and the Union of BC Indian Chiefs (collectively the First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC)), applaud the recommendations put forth in the final report of the Special Committee on the Reforming Police Act titled, “Transforming Policing and Community Safety in British Columbia.”
Read moreUBCIC Remembers and Honours St’at’imc Elder and Land Defender Rosalin (Sam) Edmonds (Yaoqus)
Press Release
April 27, 2022
UBCIC Remembers and Honours St’at’imc Elder and Land Defender Rosalin (Sam) Edmonds (Yaoqus)
(Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – April 26, 2022) The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) joins the Lil’wat people and the St’at’imc Nation in mourning the recent passing of their elder and land defender Rosalin Edmonds (Sam).
Read moreOn Earth Day, UBCIC Calls for Emergency-Level Action on Climate and Environmental Protection
News Release
April 22, 2022
On Earth Day, UBCIC Calls for Emergency-Level Action on Climate and Environmental Protection
(Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – April 22, 2022) The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) calls on all people to commit to protecting our shared planet. The climate disasters experienced by communities across British Columbia over the past year have demonstrated beyond a doubt the severity of the climate crisis and the urgency required to mitigate the ongoing catastrophe to Earth and to our peoples.
Read moreBC First Nations Climate Strategy and Action Plan Released on Earth Day
News Release
April 22, 2022
BC First Nations Climate Strategy and Action Plan Released on Earth Day
(Xwməθkwəy̓ əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱ wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – April 22, 2022). The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) is pleased to announce the release of the BC First Nations Climate Strategy and Action Plan (the Strategy), timed to celebrate and honour Earth Day.
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