Latest News

News Release 
March 30, 2023

FNLC Welcomes Vatican’s Formal Rejection of  ‘Doctrine of Discovery’

(Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) After decades of appeals by Indigenous peoples around the world, the Vatican has finally formally rejected the “Doctrine of Discovery.” The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) welcomes the repudiation of this centuries-old concept that shaped and continues to influence colonial government policies and laws.

News Release
March 29, 2023

UBCIC Stands with Wet’suwet’en as Gidimt’en Checkpoint Defending the Land from Fracking is Raided by RCMP

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – March 29, 2023) The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) is outraged to learn of another RCMP raid on Gidimt’en Checkpoint and the arrest of five people by the Community-Industry Response Group (C-IRG), under the guise of a search warrant for theft under $5000. It is currently unclear what relation there is, if any, between the Gidimt’en checkpoint and the search warrant issued by the C-IRG before the arrests. These arrests continue the troubling pattern of police intimidation of Indigenous people asserting their rights to access their own territories and rejecting fossil fuel extraction. UBCIC unequivocally stands with those standing up for the title and rights of the hereditary leadership of the Wet’suwet’en.

News Release
March 15, 2023

UBCIC Concerned that LNG Project Approval Facilitates Fracking and an Increase in Methane Emissions in BC

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – March 15, 2023) Yesterday, the Province announced a new framework for clean energy lacking critical details, while approving a new liquified ‘natural’ gas (LNG) facility that federal regulators added their approval to today.

Statement
March 15, 2023

UBCIC Calls for Urgent Police Reform to End Violence, Death, and Oppression on International Day Against Police Brutality

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – March 15, 2023) On International Day Against Police Brutality, the Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) calls for all justice actors and police authorities to acknowledge the tremendous historical and ongoing harm of police brutality that disproportionately targets Indigenous people and people of colour, rooted in colonial violence. Police and RCMP alike must uphold human rights, urgently implement the Calls for Justice, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, provide mandatory anti-racism training for all police agents to end racial bias and hate, and reconfigure lofty police budgets to prioritize de-escalation and trauma-informed, culturally safe services, so people in distress are met with compassion and support instead of violence, death and further oppression and dispossession. UBCIC firmly stands with all victims and families who have been harmed or lost loved ones to police brutality, and remembers Jared Lowndes, Chantel Moore, Chris Amyotte, Julian Jones, Dale Culver and more.

Press Release:  BC First Nations highlight human rights concerns to United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, seeking resolution through UN mechanisms. 

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)  Territory/Vancouver, B.C. (March 10, 2023) This week, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (SRRIP), Francisco Calí Tzay met with various First Nations and Indigenous organisations in BC, including representatives of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, the Office of The Wet’suwet’en, former Chief of Neskonlith Indian Band, Judy Wilson, and the First Nations Leadership Council. The mandate of the Special Rapporteur includes reporting on the human rights of Indigenous Peoples worldwide and addressing specific alleged cases of violations of Indigenous rights. Special Rapporteur Calí Tzay is on a ten day visit to Canada to hear from Indigenous peoples on a range of issues including how the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (“UNDRIP”) is being implemented in Canada. 

Media Statement: Racism against Indigenous Cultural Leader by Hyatt  Regency Vancouver Staff Prompts Call for Action

March 10, 2023

The BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres (BCAAFC) and First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) are calling for swift action following the racist and disturbing mistreatment of a First Nations man who is a beloved Cultural Advisor and staff member of the BCAAFC by the Hyatt Regency Vancouver. We call on the Hyatt Regency to uphold the safety of Indigenous peoples, to provide mandatory anti-racism training for all staff, to demonstrate accountability for the harm they have caused, and to offer a public apology.  

News Release 
March 6, 2023

FNLC Demands Change to DFO’s Science Review and Decision-Making Processes

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) is deeply disturbed by recently released information regarding Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s (DFO) scientific review and decision-making processes which alleges that scientific reports are purposely altered to support presupposed conclusions and prioritize the interests of industry and continuation of the status quo over and above the sustainability and protection of marine life and respect for First Nations inherent title and rights. The FNLC calls for an independent, external investigation and an overhaul of these processes to restore the credibility of DFO to carry out reviews and decision-making consistent with its mandate of sustainably managing marine resources, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and explicit direction from Prime Minister Trudeau.

Press Release
March 6, 2023

The FNLC Applauds BC's Initial $100 Million Investment in a Watershed Security Fund

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱w.7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) applauds BC's initial investment of $100 million towards creating a Watershed Security Fund and its commitment to co-developing the Fund with First Nations through Budget 2023.