Latest News

July 26, 2021

BCCLA Board of Directors
C/o David Fai, President Via Email: [email protected]; [email protected]

Open Letter: BCCLA Board’s Letter to Community and Weak Support for Harsha Walia Validates Racist, Alt-Right Agenda and Proves Misogyny and Discrimination Continue to Silence Indigenous Peoples and their Allies

Dear BC Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA) Board of Directors,

The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) writes to express our extreme disappointment, concern, and alarm over the BCCLA Board President’s letter to the community and the resignation announcement of BCCLA Executive Director, Harsha Walia. Harsha’s tweet was misconstrued and misrepresented as a call to violence despite her repeated statements to the contrary, and rather than stand with her, you issued a letter to the public apologizing for the Tweet. Harsha is a public figure well known for her tireless advocacy and core values of anti-racism, justice, and equality- you hired her for this, and in your “heavy hearts” we are confident that you know she would never call for violence of any kind.

News Release
July 19, 2021

UBCIC Celebrates Lac Seul First Nation’s Victory as Supreme Court of Canada Orders Canada to pay Equitable Compensation for Historical Losses

((Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – July 19, 2021).

(Coast Salish Territory/Vancouver, BC – July 19, 2021.) The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) extends our warmest congratulations to the Lac Seul First Nation (LSFN) in achieving justice for the flooding of their reserve lands before the Supreme Court of Canada after decades of struggle. This decision will fundamentally change the basis on which First Nations are entitled to compensation for Canada’s breaches of its lawful obligations.

News Release
July 16, 2021

UBCIC Calls on Province of BC to Immediately Declare State of Emergency due to Extremely Aggressive Wildfires

((Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – July 16, 2021) The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) joins the growing call for the Province to declare a state of emergency over wildfires that have been record-setting this year already, and are projected to continue in frequency and intensity. The wildfires are rapidly draining resources and have directly impacted thousands of people, including a disproportionate number of First Nations who have been forced to evacuate and are grappling with a disorganized network of support and a lack of consistent recognition of their jurisdiction.

News Release
July 15, 2021

FNLC Stands with Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc and all IRS Survivors and Families and Calls on Governments for Immediate Actions

(Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) This morning, Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc released the Kamloops Indian Residential School Le Estcwéý (The Missing) Report Findings and gathered residential school survivors to share their thoughts and experiences with Canada and the world. The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) sends our love and prayers to the survivors for their incredible courage and stands in solidarity with Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc. We call on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and all of Canada to honour their commitments to reconciliation and to join Indigenous peoples on the continued journey for truth, justice, and healing. As we work toward these goals, immediate attention and actions are required.

News Release
July 13, 2021

Justice for Jared: FNLC Outraged at RCMP’s Fatal Shooting and Dehumanizing Treatment of Wet’suwet’en Man in Campbell River, BC

(Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) is calling for justice, accountability, an inquest, and a higher level of oversight in the aftermath of the RCMP’s shooting of Jared Lowndes on July 8, 2021. The incident, which saw no attempt at de-escalation from the RCMP, left the 38-year-old father dead, his family seeking answers, and a community divided, as racist, hateful sentiments begin to rise.

News Release
July 8, 2021

UBCIC Celebrates National Chief RoseAnne Archibald, First Woman Elected as National Chief!

((Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – July 8, 2021) The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) congratulates RoseAnne Archibald of Taykwa Tagamou Nation as the first woman elected as National Chiefof the Assembly of First Nations. National Chief Archibald has made significant contributions during her 31 years in politics, serving her community as the first woman and youngest Chief of Taykwa Tagamou Nation at 23 years of age, the first woman and youngest Deputy Grand Chief for Nishnawbe-Aski Nation as well as Grand Chief of Mushkegowuk Council, and as the first woman to be elected as Regional Chief of Ontario.

Statement
June 30, 2021

UBCIC Chiefs Council Concludes Meeting to Advance Truth, Justice, and Reconciliation for Stolen Children of Indian Residential Schools

((Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – June 30, 2021) Today the Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) held a special political forum, with the support of Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc, to focus on and advance actions around the remains of the 215 children found buried at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School (KIRS), and to discuss the overarching issue of missing children and unmarked burials and mass graves that impacts all First Nations in BC and across Turtle Island.