Latest News

Statement
June 21, 2022

Struggles Continue on National Indigenous Peoples Day; UBCIC Calls for Increased Justice, Transparency and Ethics

(Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – June 21, 2022) Today, on National Indigenous Peoples Day, the Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) reflects on a range of critical issues facing First Nations as we demand systemic change. UBCIC calls for decisive forward action on implementation of the federal United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act and the provincial Declaration Act, tangible and concrete action on the MMIWG Calls for Justice, the jointly developed repatriation of internees of unmarked graves to their home communities, and substantial climate crisis investments to First Nations.

News Release 
June 16, 2022

One Year After UN Declaration Act Passed, FNLC Calls for Faster Progress and Emergency Interim Implementation Plan 

(Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) is concerned with a lack of progress since Canada passed the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act one year ago today, which commits the federal government to the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UN Declaration).

Media Release
June 10, 2022

FNLC Statement on Special Interlocutor

((Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.: The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) welcomes the appointment of Kimberly R. Murray, a Mohawk woman from Kanehsatà:ke, as Independent Special Interlocutor for Missing Children and Unmarked Graves and Burial Sites associated with Indian Residential Schools across Canada. We call on Canada to ensure that her role as Special Interlocutor is fully resourced and mandated to the highest extent and to further appoint a Special Prosecutor to bring justice to Indigenous peoples for the crimes committed by Canada and the Church, and together bring our children home.

News Release
June 10, 2022

UBCIC Launches Status Card Racism Survey

Survey is open to all status card holders in B.C. until July 1, 2022.

(Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – June 10, 2022) The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) has launched an online survey to determine how much racism and discrimination users face when they present their status cards in public places like banks and retail outlets.

Statement
June 4, 2022

UBCIC Demands Justice for Chantel Moore, Two Years after Police Murder

((Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – June 4^th, 2022) 26-year-old Chantel Moore of Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation was fatally shot by RCMP in Edmundston, New Brunswick two years ago today during a wellness check. The Coroner’s Inquest this month concluded that her death was a homicide.

News Release 
June 3, 2022

First Nations Leadership Council Calls for Immediate Action to Address Colonial Violence Against First Nations Women and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People

(Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) On the third anniversary of the release of the National Inquiry’s Final Report and Calls for Justice, the First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) is deeply troubled by the lack of progress to implement the Calls for Justice. Despite the finding of genocide made by the National Inquiry, and the horrific experiences of systemic discrimination and violence that were brought to light, the Canadian and British Columbian governments’ work on this issue has been marked by a lack of committed resources, poor communication and coordination, and inadequate partnership with First Nations people.

Statement
May 23, 2022

UBCIC Honoured to Attend Tk’emlúps Memorial for Le Estcwicwéy̓; Calls on Canada and Pope for more Action

((Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – May 23, 2022) Today Tk’emlúps Te Secwépemc hosts a memorial in commemoration of Le Estcwicwéy̓ – the missing – nearly a year after they first confirmed the finding of 215 First Nations children in an unmarked grave at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School.  

News Release
May 16, 2022

UBCIC Calls for Province to Expand Existing Services for Children and Youth with Special Needs; Pause on Family Connection Centres

((Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – May 16, 2022) On May 12, 2022 the Government of British Columbia took an additional step toward dismantling existing services for children with disabilities, including in particular individualized funding for children with autism, when it announced requests for proposals to run new "Family Connection Centres". The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) rejects British Columbia steamrolling Indigenous families, and all families of children with disabilities by trying to impose a centralized, MCFD-controlled system of services for children with disabilities without proper consultation, co-operation, or consent.