Latest News

News Release    
Oct. 16, 2026

FNLC CONDEMNS RACIST REMARKS BY BC CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATE CALLING FOR FIRST NATIONS TO BE “CONQUERED”

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) is loudly denouncing the deeply racist remarks made by Conservative Party of BC candidate for Juan de Fuca–Malahat Mike Hicks, who stated during a local election debate that First Nations needed to be “conquered.” Such language invokes a violent history of colonialism, dispossession, and attempted assimilation, and reflects deeply troubling attitudes toward First Nations peoples. The FNLC unequivocally rejects this rhetoric and calls on Hicks and the Conservative Party of B.C. leadership to publicly retract these remarks.

The Honourable Mandy Gull-Masty
Minister of Indigenous Services Canada
Email Only:

 Open Letter: UBCIC Opposition to Bill C-37 – First Nations Clean Water Legislation

Dear Minister Gull-Masty:

The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) expresses its strong opposition to Bill C-37, An Act respecting water, source water, drinking water, wastewater and related infrastructure on First Nation lands, in its current form. While UBCIC recognizes the urgent need for legislation that guarantees First Nations' access to clean and safe drinking water, Bill C-37 fails to adequately recognize and uphold First Nations' inherent and constitutionally protected title and rights, and jurisdiction over their lands, waters, and resources. UBCIC cannot support the legislation as currently drafted and calls on Canada to undertake substantial amendments before advancing the Bill.

News Release
October 13, 2026

UBCIC Demands the Removal of Conservative Candidate John Henderson in Powell River-Sunshine Coast

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/ Vancouver, B.C. – October 13, 2026) The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) is calling for the immediate removal of candidate John Henderson, who brought the book Grave Error to the Sechelt municipal hall while he was Mayor in 2024, and discussed with senior staff. The book calls into question widely documented evidence of the horrendous truths of Indian Residential Schools and has been criticized and rejected broadly including by the UBCIC Chiefs Council through resolution.

News Release
October 1, 2026

UBCIC Rejects “National Interest” Designation for Toxic West Coast Oil “Pacific Link” Pipeline 

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/ Vancouver, B.C. – October 1, 2026) Today, the federal government announced designation of the West Coast Oil “Pacific Link” Pipeline (Pacific Link pipeline) as a project of national interest, despite an incomplete consultation process that ignored First Nations inherent and constitutionally protected title and rights, and that ignored the dangerous impacts of increased fossil fuel extraction and transmission. The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) reiterates that First Nations’ title and rights cannot be set aside to meet a political timeline, and that opposition from affected Nations must be respected.

News Release
September 30, 2026

Court Reaffirms Importance of Confronting Residential School Denialism ahead of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/ Vancouver, B.C. – September 30, 2026) The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) recognizes National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day with condemnation of residential school denialism and renewed calls for public education on the history of residential schools, legal protections from denialism, safety and support for survivors.  

News Release
September 29, 2026

First Nations Leadership Council Condemns White Nationalist Activity in Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc Territory 

(xʷməθkʷəy̓ əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (TsleilWaututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) was disgusted and angered to learn of the stark demonstration of racialized hate apparently associated with the white nationalist and supremacist group “Second Sons” on Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc reserve lands on September 27, 2026, the anonymous cowards were seen holding a banner that said, “Got Bones?”, seemingly questioning the well documented existence of unmarked graves at the sites of former Indian Residential Schools. The FNLC stands with and supports Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc as they deal with the fallout of this despicable act, and call on Prime Minister Mark Carney and B.C. Premier David Eby to join events hosted by Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

News Release
September 24, 2026

UBCIC Women’s Declaration: Protecting Our Women and Our Lands against Violence of Major Projects

(Shxwhá:y Village (Stó:lō Territory)/ Chilliwack, B.C. – September 24, 2026) Women delegates of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) gathered yesterday during the 58^th UBCIC Annual General Assembly for a Women’s Gathering, “Honouring Our Matriarchs, Protecting Future Generations.”  Women leaders sounded the alarm over the swift advancement of provincial and federal major projects without First Nations’ free, prior, and informed consent, the erosion of environmental protections and First Nations women’s rights and safety, and heightened risks of gender-based violence and the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit+ Peoples (MMIWG2S+) crisis in relation to resource extraction. 

News Release    
September 15, 2026

FNLC Celebrates the 19th Anniversary, Urges Full Implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: Revitalize Reconciliation, Justice and True Partnership

(Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) On the 19th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (the UN Declaration) as a global human rights standard, the First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) celebrates commitments and progress toward strengthening First Nations’ self-determination by supporting First Nations’ governance and decision-making autonomy within their Nations and territories.