Latest News

Press Release
April 27, 2022

UBCIC Remembers and Honours St’at’imc Elder and Land Defender Rosalin (Sam) Edmonds (Yaoqus)

(Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – April 26, 2022) The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) joins the Lil’wat people and the St’at’imc Nation in mourning the recent passing of their elder and land defender Rosalin Edmonds (Sam).

News Release
April 22, 2022

On Earth Day, UBCIC Calls for Emergency-Level Action on Climate and Environmental Protection

(Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – April 22, 2022) The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) calls on all people to commit to protecting our shared planet. The climate disasters experienced by communities across British Columbia over the past year have demonstrated beyond a doubt the severity of the climate crisis and the urgency required to mitigate the ongoing catastrophe to Earth and to our peoples.

News Release
April 22, 2022

BC First Nations Climate Strategy and Action Plan Released on Earth Day

(Xwməθkwəy̓ əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱ wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – April 22, 2022). The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) is pleased to announce the release of the BC First Nations Climate Strategy and Action Plan (the Strategy), timed to celebrate and honour Earth Day. 

Press Release
April 21, 2022

FNLC Welcomes BC's Interim Commitments Towards Watershed Protection

(Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) welcomes Premier Horgan's announcement to commit $30 million towards projects that protect watersheds in BC, including $15 million to be allocated towards Indigenous-led or co-led projects.

April 14, 2022

The Honourable David Eby
Attorney General of British Columbia
Via email only: [email protected]

Re: Criminal Contempt Charges to Wet’suwet’en Land Defenders and Their Allies

Dear Minister Eby,

The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) Executive has learned that Justice Marguerite Church has invited the B.C. Prosecution Service to consider charging Wet’suwet’en land defenders and their allies with criminal contempt for their actions on territories which have never been ceded, released or surrendered to the Crown. The UBCIC Executive unequivocally urges the Ministry of Attorney General not to proceed with criminal charges in this matter. Wet’suwet’en hereditary leadership, the rightful title holders of the land on which the alleged actions took place, have not permitted the construction of sections of the Coastal GasLink pipeline through the territory under their jurisdiction. The Wet’suwet’en continue to exercise their right to govern and occupy their lands by continuing and empowering Wet’suwet’en law and governance systems.

STATEMENT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 14, 2022

Federal Government unjustifiably withholds scientific report for 10 years

(Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, BC)  - The First Nation Wild Salmon Alliance (“FNWSA”) is deeply troubled with the revelations set out in an article featured on the front page of today’s Globe and Mail which identifies that the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (“DFO”), under the Harper administration, withheld critical science related to the existence of a highly transmissible PRV virus among open-net fish farms for over 10 years. The article also raises the issue that Dr. Kristi Miller-Saunders, a senior research scientist at the DFO, was unable to disclose the results of her study which gave rise to the final report in question. 

News Release

April 8, 2022

Independent Review of the VPD’s Arrest of Maxwell Johnson and Granddaughter Confirms the Reckless, Oppressive, and “Blameworthy” Conduct of Arresting Officers

(Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – April 8, 2022) The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) welcomes and supports the findings of the independent review of the 2019 arrest of Maxwell Johnson and his granddaughter, both members of the Heiltsuk First Nation, at a Bank of Montreal branch by Vancouver police. The review concluded that the officers arrested and handcuffed the pair “without reasonable and probable grounds.” Furthermore, former Justice Brian Neal who conducted the review wrote that the arrests “demonstrated serious, blameworthy conduct contrary to section 77 of the Police Act.”

Statement
April 5, 2022

FNLC Statement on New Report Highlighting Ongoing Income Gaps and Barriers for Indigenous People in BC

((Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.: The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) welcomes the stark findings of the report Income Supports and Indigenous Peoples in B.C.: An Analysis of Gaps and Barriers and calls on the BC Government to take action on its recommendations and the irrefutable evidence presented on the ongoing structures and systems which are trapping Indigenous people in a disproportionate cycle of poverty in this province.