Latest News

New mapping shows approved or pending logging permits in at least 50,000 hectares of BC’s target deferral area

Thursday, December 02, 2021

 Stalled old-growth deferral process leaves irreplaceable at-risk forest on the chopping block, some areas already logged

VICTORIA / UNCEDED LEKWUNGEN TERRITORIES — New mapping analysis by the Wilderness Committee shows at least 50,000 hectares — more than four times the area of the City of Vancouver — of the old-growth forest the B.C. government has targeted for deferral has been approved for logging, is pending approval and in some cases has already been logged.

News Release
Dec 1, 2021

First Nations and TAP Member Demand Faster Action and Adequate Resources to Protect Old-Growth Forests

(Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – Dec 1, 2021) Today, First Nations leaders from across B.C. and Technical Advisory Panel member Dr. Rachel Holt called on the provincial government to take faster action to protect threatened old-growth forests and commit the resources necessary to support First Nations through this process with immediate deferrals. Following the government’s announcement of its intention to defer 2.6 million hectares of at-risk old-growth forests, they gave a 30-day deadline upon First Nations to decide on logging deferrals, while themselves taking more than 18 months to reach this point. As this arbitrary and rushed deadline draws to a close, First Nation leaders and experts are criticizing both the process itself and the lack of progress on the ground.

Press Release 
November 30, 2021

FNLC Marks One-Year Anniversary of Release of In Plain Sight – the most challenging work still lies ahead

(Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) marks the one-year anniversary of the release of In Plain Sight, the reports of the independent review of Indigenous-specific racism in BC’s health care system, led by Dr. Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond. In Plain Sight provided seminal and evidence-based insight into the pervasive challenges, trauma, and colonial violence confronting Indigenous peoples due to systemic racism in the BC health care system.

News Release
November 29, 2021

FNLC Calls for Accelerated Implementation of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act on 2-year Anniversary

(Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) Today, the First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) acknowledges the two-year anniversary since British Columbia became the first province in Canada and one of the first jurisdictions in the world to enshrine the human rights of Indigenous peoples in law. Bill 41, the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (Declaration Act), was passed unanimously on November 26, 2019 and became law on November 28.

The Honourable Marc Miller

Minister, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada

Sent via email only: [email protected]

November 26, 2021

Open Letter:   Canada Must Uphold Legal Obligations Under Article 19 of UN Declaration in Developing New Research Funding Policies

Dear Minister Miller,

The National Claims Research Directors (NCRD) writes in response to Canada’s intention to publish new policy guidelines related to the administration of specific claims research and development funding (“Funding Application Guidelines – Contributions for the Research, Development and Submission of Specific Claims”) and distribute redesigned templates meant to be used by First Nations applying for research funding and reporting on annual research activities. The guidelines and templates are highly problematic and were developed unilaterally by the Negotiation Support Directorate (NSD) and overseen by the Specific Claims Branch (SCB). They were created without having worked in full partnership with First Nations from the outset of the policy development process to obtain their free, prior, and informed consent before implementation as required under Article 19 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UN Declaration). We insist that you withdraw the guidelines and templates until substantive engagement with First Nations and their representative organizations has taken place to ensure First Nations’ rights under the UN Declaration are upheld.

Coalition on MMIWG2S+ Remembers Lillian Howard for her Legacy of Advocacy and Vision of Justice

Our hearts are heavy with the passing of Lillian Howard, who was an active and long-time member of the Coalition and fierce advocate for Indigenous women and peoples. The members of the Coalition share our heart-felt condolences with Lillian’s family, friends, relatives, and all whose lives were touched by her light and presence.

November 23, 2021

OPEN LETTER: Call for the Immediate Withdrawal of Bill 22, Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Amendment Act, 2021

Dear Premier Horgan and Minister Beare,

On October 18, 2021, your government introduced amendments to British Columbia’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) through Bill 22. We have learned that Bill 22 is quickly proceeding through the legislature and is anticipated to receive Royal Assent before the end of the current legislative session on November 25^th. However, the bill in its current form fails to uphold First Nations’ unique rights of access to information as many of the proposed amendments will create new barriers for First Nations requiring access to provincial government records to substantiate their historical grievances against the Crown. Further, several proposed amendments disregard significant concerns we identified in formal submissions to the public engagement process, and introduce measures about which we were never informed, contravening Article 19 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UN Declaration), and your government’s legal obligations under the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA).

News Release  
November 19, 2021 

First Nations in BC Experiencing Compounded Emergencies; BC and Canada Must Provide Full Supports  

(Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) As BC continues to reel from the ongoing devastation caused by the recent "atmospheric river event", which saw extreme rain, winds, landslides, and floods wreak catastrophe upon communities and infrastructure, the First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) remains deeply alarmed and concerned about both short-term and long-term cumulative effects of the crisis upon the safety and welfare of First Nation communities.