OPEN LETTER: UBCIC demands immediate release of all non-violent offenders as part of COVID-19 pandemic response and emergency state of Indigenous incarceration
Honourable David Lametti
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OPEN LETTER: UBCIC demands immediate release of all non-violent offenders as part of COVID-19 pandemic response and emergency state of Indigenous incarceration
Dear Ministers,
Dr. Ivan Zinger, Canada’s Chief Correctional Officer, has called the current rates of Indigenous incarceration in Canada a national travesty, with nearly 1/3 of all inmates in Federal custody being Indigenous. In response to the growing rates of Indigenous people being sentenced to custody, the UBCIC Chiefs Council presented, affirmed and endorsed unanimously UBCIC Resolution 2020-03, “Call for Action to Declare Indigenous Incarceration Rates a State of Emergency” (attached), on February 27, 2020.
THE TIME IS NOW! Prime Minister Justin Trudeau must immediately declare a National State of Emergency
Press Release
For Immediate Release
March 23, 2020
THE TIME IS NOW!
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau must immediately declare a National State of Emergency
(xwməθkwəy̓ əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱ wú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ ilwətaʔɬ/sel̓ ílwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, BC – March 23, 2020):
The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) is calling on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to immediately declare a national state of emergency in response to the COVID-19, before the pandemic sweeps through Canada’s most vulnerable communities, including First Nations.
Read moreCanada Must Implement Clearer, Stronger Measures to Protect First Nations and all Canadians from the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Pandemic
Press Release
For Immediate Release
March 17, 2020
Canada Must Implement Clearer, Stronger Measures to Protect First Nations and all Canadians from the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Pandemic
(xwməθkwəy̓ əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱ wú7mesh (Squamish) and səl = ilwətaʔɬ/sel= ílwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, BC – Mar.17, 2020): The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) acknowledges the efforts underway in addressing the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19); however, we strongly urge the federal government to escalate its response and implement clearer, stronger, and quicker measures to support vulnerable First Nation and Canadian communities. Given the continuously evolving nature of COVID-19 and the systemic social and economic inequalities that will leave Indigenous populations and other marginalized communities more susceptible to the disease, Canada must immediately move beyond social-distancing measures.
Read moreFNLC Urges Coordinated and Joint Action in Dealing with COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Pandemic
Press Release
For Immediate Release
March 13, 2020
FNLC Urges Coordinated and Joint Action in Dealing with COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Pandemic
(xwməθkwəy̓ əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱ wú7mesh (Squamish) and səl= ilwətaʔɬ/sel= ílwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, BC – Mar.13, 2020): The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) urges the federal and provincial governments and First Nations to take every precaution and prepare for the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic that has spread throughout the world and Canada.
Read moreFNLC Statement to Participants of the All Chiefs’ Meeting on Shared Territories and Overlaps
RE: Cancellation of March 12 Afternoon and March 13 Sessions
March 12, 2020
After careful consideration of prevailing medical guidance, the First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) is cancelling the remaining sessions of the All Chiefs’ Meeting on Shared Territories and Overlaps due to the increasing risks associated with COVID-19.
Read moreWet’suwet’en, BCCLA, and UBCIC Release Explosive Letter Revealing BC Solicitor General Authorizing RCMP Deployment, Contradicting Public Statements
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wet’suwet’en, BCCLA, and UBCIC Release Explosive Letter Revealing BC Solicitor General Authorizing RCMP Deployment, Contradicting Public Statements
VANCOUVER/ (Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ilwətaʔɬ/sel̓ílwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) territories, March 6, 2020 – Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs, BC Civil Liberties Association and Union of BC Indian Chiefs are releasing a letter dated January 27, 2020 from BC Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth to RCMP Deputy Commissioner Jennifer Strachan.
Read moreTeck Withdraws Frontier Mine Proposal Amidst a Volatile Oil Market Forced to Respond to the Climate Emergency
News Release
February 23, 2020
Teck Withdraws Frontier Mine Proposal Amidst a Volatile Oil Market Forced to Respond to the Climate Emergency
((Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ilwətaʔɬ/sel̓ílwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – February 23, 2020) Tonight, Teck Resources Ltd. made the stunning announcement that it has withdrawn its proposal for the Frontier Oilsands Mine, which would have been the largest open pit oilsands mine in Canada. The announcement came days before Canada was set to make a decision on the project, and in the middle of a protracted and tense national crisis over the proposed Coastal Gaslink pipeline in unceded Wet’suwet’en territory.
Read moreUBCIC Supports Indigenous Land Defense and Acknowledges CPR Joining Call for Trudeau to meet Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Leadership
Media Statement
February 21, 2020
UBCIC Supports Indigenous Land Defense and Acknowledges CPR Joining Call for Trudeau to meet Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Leadership
((Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ilwətaʔɬ/sel̓ílwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – February 21, 2020) The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) recognizes the Canadian Pacific Railway’s (CPR) honourable conduct in relation to Secwepemcul’ecw Land Defenders who occupied part of the railway yesterday. Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, UBCIC President, stated “CPR chose direct and respectful engagement with Secwepemcul’ecw Land Defenders instead of calling for an injunction that would have resulted in arrests. In a letter released today, CPR supported the Wet’suwet’en in their request for dialogue with Prime Minister Trudeau and called upon Trudeau to immediately fulfill this request. We hope Trudeau listens to this call and responds accordingly instead of repeatedly calling for ‘the barricades to come down’ when he knows full well that this could incite violence.”
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