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News Release

November 18, 2021

BC Pours Resources into RCMP Raid on Wet’suwet’en Territory during Provincial Climate Emergency

(Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – November 18, 2021) In blind defense of fossil fuel expansion, the RCMP began a publicly funded siege on peaceful land defenders in unceded Wet’suwet’en territory this morning, while BC is in the middle of a state of emergency due to a climate crisis that the entire world is watching. At least 15 supporters have already been arrested; dozens of RCMP have been reported breaching Gidimt’en checkpoint.

 After disappointing Climate Summit, B.C. government should stop obstructing Indigenous-led climate solutions

The Nuchatlaht Nation’s land claim is one of the few rays of hope to come out from COP26

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

November 18, 2021  

Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh and səlilwətaɬ (VANCOUVER, BC) and Glasgow — After a disappointing conclusion to COP26 in Glasgow that will make it harder to achieve the 1.5°C goal established in the Paris Agreements, representatives from the Union of BC Indian Chiefs, Sierra Club BC and the Nuchatlaht Nation that attended the climate summit in the U.K. are calling on the B.C. government to step aside and stop opposing Indigenous-led climate solutions.

Statement
November 17, 2021

UBCIC Supports Call for Peaceful Evacuation of Coastal GasLink from Wet’suwet’en Territory

(Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – November 17, 2021) The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) continues to support efforts of members of the Gidimt’en clan to peacefully assert and safeguard their inherent Title and Rights, and to uphold their sovereignty and jurisdiction over unceded Wet’suwet’en territory in stopping Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) expansion. On November 14, 2021, members of the Gidimt’en clan enforced the eviction of Coastal Gaslink (CGL) workers from their lands and gave them eight hours to peacefully evacuate before the main road into the Lhudis Bin territory of the Gidimt’en clan was closed. These Gidimt’en members are upholding ancient Wet’suwet’en trespass laws and an eviction notice served by the Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs to CGL in 2020.

News Release
November 16, 2021

UBCIC Remembers Lee Maracle, Beloved Indigenous Activist and Acclaimed Writer and Poet

(Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and sel̓ílwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – November 16, 2021) The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) mourns the loss of the beloved and incomparable Lee Maracle. A celebrated and acclaimed writer, poet, teacher, and activist, Lee Maracle revolutionized Indigenous feminist literature in Canada and gave a poignant, unflinching voice to the stories of Indigenous women and their experiences with the destructive forces of discrimination and racism.

Press Release
November 16, 2021

FNLC Calls for a State of Emergency due to Unprecedented Climate Weather Events in BC

(Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) In the wake of the extreme weather events that continue to devastate First Nations across BC, the First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) calls on the Provincial government to declare an indefinite State of Emergency in BC, effective immediately.

Statement
November 10, 2021

UBCIC Celebrates BC Government’s Decision to Phase Out Mink-Farming Industry 

(Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – November 10, 2021) The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) welcomes the recent announcement from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Fisheries that due to public health concerns stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, it is set to permanently ban mink farming in the province through a phased approach that will allow mink farmers to transition to other agriculture industries. 

Statement
November 8, 2021

UBCIC Commemorates National Aboriginal Veterans Day

(Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – November 8, 2021) Today, on National Aboriginal Veterans Day, UBCIC remembers and honours the contributions of all Indigenous veterans in war and peacekeeping operations. We express our deepest gratitude for the generations of courageous First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples who have supported Canada’s military efforts with dedication and valour for over 200 years.

News Release 

November 4, 2021

BC’s Hot Potato Handling of Old Growth Stonewalls Indigenous Decision-Making and Lacks Fulsome Supports for First Nations

(Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – November 4, 2021) Earlier this week, Forests Minister Katrine Conroy announced the province’s identification of 2.6 million hectares of old-growth forest in B.C. that could potentially be deferred if First Nations agree, as recommended by the technical advisory panel formed in June. While deferrals are a step in the right direction to protect BC’s big treed, ancient, and rare old growth, the First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) is extremely concerned that old growth remains unprotected today, and that the Province has passed responsibility to First Nations without providing financial support for Nations to replace any revenues that might be lost if they choose to defer logging old growth in their territory.