Latest News

First Nations Call for Protection of Bear Dens via Immediate Provincial Legislation and Support for First Nations Legal Orders 

Kwakiutl Nation and the Union of BC Indian Chiefs launch an initiative committing to First Nations legal orders as well as Provincial Wildlife Act policy-mechanism to end the long-standing policy-loophole on unprotected bear dens.

March 6, 2024 – Vancouver, British Columbia

Today, we raise our hands to community leader and MLA Adam Olsen for tabling a Bear Den Protection Wildlife Act Amendment in the BC Legislature. Provincial policy measures and mechanisms have been woefully inadequate in addressing this long-standing problem and it is long overdue that we close this loophole once and for all.  

Press Release 

March 4, 2024

First Nations Release Critical Minerals Strategy in

British Columbia to Facilitate Net Zero by 2050

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) - First Nations in B.C. have announced a proactive critical minerals strategy for their territories in British Columbia. The First Nations Critical Minerals Strategy was facilitated and prepared by the BC First Nations Energy and Mining Council and supported by the First Nations Leadership Council. 

News Release 
February 27, 2024

First Nations Leadership Council disgusted by comedy group profiteering off the Pickton mass murder case

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) is deeply offended by the Albertan comedy group The Danger Cats selling t-shirts with the cartoon image of BC serial killer Robert William Pickton and reprehensible text referencing the victims. Pickton, who was convicted of six murders in 2007, is connected to at least 49 murders of women, many of whom were Indigenous and survival sex workers.

News Release

February 21, 2024

FNLC Deeply Frustrated with Opposition to Land Act Amendments

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) is extremely disappointed with the decision to postpone introduction of straightforward amendments to the Land Act that would remove barriers to commitments already made five years ago in the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.

News Release
February 9, 2024

The Supreme Court of Canada Upholds  The Act Respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) – The First Nations Leadership Council and the Our Children Our Way Society welcome and applaud today’s Supreme Court decision which represents a giant leap forward in the implementation of Indigenous jurisdiction over children and families.

News Release 
February 7, 2024

First Nations Leadership Council Alarmed by Public Official’s Denigration of Tla’amin Language and Culture

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) The First Nations Leadership Council was alarmed to hear a live broadcast where a Powell River elected official demeaned Tla’amin First Nation peoples by mocking their language and cultural identity. This is another demonstration “caught on tape” of a racist and cowardly act towards not just Tla’amin people, but all First Nations across the country.

News Release 
February 1, 2024

Proposed Land Act Amendments are Next Step in Implementation of the  Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) is concerned about recent reactions to the Province of B.C.’s proposed Land Act amendments that are inaccurate and unhelpful, and implicitly rely on outdated, mistaken, and regressive views relating to the rights of First Nations.

News Release
January 31, 2024

FNLC and Our Children Our Way Society Alarmed Over Toxic Drug Deaths

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) – On the heels of Bell’s Let’s Talk Day—a day to promote action regarding mental health—British Columbians were confronted with the reality that 2023 was the worst year for toxic drug deaths in BC history. There were 2,511 toxic drug deaths over the course of 2023—nearly seven deaths every single day. First Nations are disproportionately represented in the number of people dying by toxic drug poisoning.