Latest News

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to the Province of B.C.’s proposed Land Act amendments that are inaccurate and unhelpful, and implicitly rely on outdated, mistaken, and regressive views relating to the rights of First Nations.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.

News Release 
January 30, 2024

FNLC Stands with shíshálh Nation and Denounces Inflammatory and Disrespectful Acts and Rhetoric Related to the shíshálh swiya Dock Management Plan

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) is deeply alarmed about recent posts circulating on social media showing a confrontational sign affixed to a shíshálh Nation (shíshálh) longhouse that includes untrue and misleading statements about the shíshálh swiya Dock Management Plan (DMP), and inflammatory and disrespectful comments about shíshálh and shíshálh people. The FNLC categorically denounces all of this abhorrent behaviour in the strongest terms and reaffirms its support for shíshálh and all shíshálh people as they undertake the important work of protecting and preserving shíshálh swiya in partnership with the Province.

News Release   

January 19, 2024

FNLC Denounces BC Métis Federation’s Coastal Water Protectors’ Conference and Related TMX Project Accommodation  

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) is alarmed that the BC Métis Federation’s (BCMF) Coastal Water Protectors are holding a Coastal Conference on January 20^th in North Vancouver. The conference purports to be “…a gathering dedicated to the protection and preservation of our invaluable aquatic ecosystems.” 

December 11, 2023

FNLC Calls for Preservation of Evidence in the Pickton Case and for Victim, Survivor and Family Rights to be Upheld

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.)

 The First Nations Leadership Council is deeply disturbed that the RCMP recently applied to dispose of approximately 14,000 exhibits related to the Pickton case, and are calling for the preservation of evidence collected from the Pickton farm and Pickton-related properties and associates. Further, we are calling for the RCMP to implement a rights-based, trauma-informed, culturally-safe and an Indigenous gender-based analysis plus approach to center the rights of victims, survivors and families.

News Release

December 7, 2023

FNLC Supports BC’s Release of Distinctions-Based Approach Primer and Clarification of BC’s Position on Métis Rights

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) supports the Province of British Columbia’s (BC) release of its long-overdue Distinctions-Based Approach Primer (Primer) and applauds BC for clarifying its position on Métis rights in what is now known as British Columbia. As noted in the Primer, a distinctions-based approach, and appropriate respect for Indigenous laws and jurisdictions, means that the scope of rights enjoyed by an Indigenous People is contextual and that BC’s relations and dealings with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit must be conducted in a manner that is appropriate for the specific context, recognizing and respecting the distinct and different histories, rights, laws, legal systems, and systems of governance of each.