UBCIC Calls on Canada to Turn Rhetoric into Action on National Indigenous Peoples Day
Press Statement
June 21, 2020
UBCIC Calls on Canada to Turn Rhetoric into Action on National Indigenous Peoples Day
((Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ilwətaʔɬ/sel̓ílwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – June 21, 2020) The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) acknowledges National Indigenous Peoples’ Day and applauds the continued leadership and fortitude of Indigenous peoples across Turtle Island. Despite continued opposition, Indigenous peoples stand at the forefront of defending our lands, territories, and environment for future generations. Today, UBCIC celebrates what has been gained, grieves those who have been lost, and affirms once more our commitment to the common fight for the recognition of Indigenous rights and respect for our cultures and societies.
Read moreFirst Nations leadership outraged by racist behavior of ER doctors and staff
NEWS RELEASE
June 19, 2020
First Nations leadership outraged by racist behavior of ER doctors and staff
(Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ilwətaʔɬ/sel̓ílwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) — The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) is dismayed with the circumstances surrounding the investigation announced this morning by Health Minister Adrian Dix, specifically related to a “game” to guess the intoxication level of Indigenous and other Emergency Room (ER) patients.
Read moreUN Questionnaire: Impact of COVID-19 on indigenous peoples
UN Questionnaire: Impact of COVID-19 on indigenous peoples
Submission to:
Francisco Cali Tzay, Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples
June 19, 2020
QUESTIONS
1. How does the State collect and analyse information on the impact of COVID-19 on indigenous peoples and individuals? Is disaggregated data on indigenous peoples, including health impacts, available?
- Disaggregated data on Indigenous people who have tested positive for COVID-19 is publicly available online from Indigenous Services Canada (ISC), and tracking is updated weekly for the number of hospitalizations, recovered cases, and deaths.[1] The data is further disaggregated to reflect cases by region, age group, and sex. [2]
- Provincial chief public health officers work with ISC regional medical officers and nurses to track reported cases of COVID-19 for Indigenous peoples. On May 9, 2020, ISC announced $250,000 of dedicated funding to improve data collection for Indigenous peoples impacted by COVID-19, acknowledging previously available data was insufficient.
- Indigenous community members and independent researchers have indicated further weaknesses in data collection are linked to the “distinctions-based” approach used by ISC. Indigenous peoples are not exhaustively reflected in reports of cases on-reserve, which is the primary focus of ISC data collection. Research published May 12, 2020 from the Yellowhead Institute indicated significant data discrepancies in total cases reported by ISC as compared to cumulative publicly available data from sources including media reports, Band Council updates, local reports, and obituaries, in addition to independent verification.
- The discrepancy - 175 cases recorded by ISC at time of publishing, 465 by the Institute – points to a lack of consistent data collection by public health agencies across Canada.
- Public health agencies’ relationships with local Indigenous peoples vary greatly across health jurisdictions, and many public health agencies do not collect disaggregated data including racial or ethnic identity at all.[3]
- Importantly, data on cases disaggregated by community/First Nation was not made available to Indigenous leaders throughout the pandemic, which raised concerns about the ability of First Nations to take precautions to protect members from community spread.[4]
UBCIC Statement on Police Raid of Namegan/CRAB Park Tent City
News Release
June 16, 2020
UBCIC Statement on Police Raid of Namegan/CRAB Park Tent City
((Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ilwətaʔɬ/sel̓ílwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – June 16, 2020) The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) stands in solidarity and shared outrage with the residents of Namegan/CRAB Park Tent City who were forcefully displaced this morning. The Province of British Columbia and the City of Vancouver have continued their pattern of prioritizing corporate interests and colonial property over the lives and safety of unhoused community members.
Read moreIndigenous Leaders and Environmental Groups Demand Independent Federal and BC Investigation into Safety of Existing TMX Pipeline After Latest Oil Spill
Indigenous Leaders and Environmental Groups Demand Independent Federal and BC Investigation into Safety of Existing TMX Pipeline After Latest Oil Spill
“The federal government investigating itself is clearly not an option,” said Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, UBCIC
For Immediate Release
(Sema:th Territory/ Abbotsford– June 16, 2020), Vancouver- Indigenous leaders and environmental groups in British Columbia are asking the Federal and BC governments to launch an independent, Indigenous-led expert investigation into the safety and integrity of the existing 67-year-old Trans Mountain pipeline after a 150,000 litre oil spill over the weekend. It is the pipeline’s 85th spill. Indigenous leaders and groups are also asking for a moratorium on construction for the new pipeline.
Read moreStop TMX: Devastating Trans Mountain Pipeline Spill Reinforces Urgency to Halt Further Expansion - UBCIC
News Release
June 14, 2020
Stop TMX: Devastating Trans Mountain Pipeline Spill Reinforces Urgency to Halt Further Expansion
(Sema:th Territory/ Abbotsford– June 14, 2020) Indigenous leaders are demanding answers and raising alarm following another Trans Mountain pipeline spill, which took place early yesterday morning in Abbotsford.
Read moreOrganizations Call on Mayor Kennedy Stewart to Implement Immediate Ban on Racist Police Street Checks in Vancouver
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Organizations Call on Mayor Kennedy Stewart to Implement Immediate Ban on Racist Police Street Checks in Vancouver
June 10, 2020, (xwməθkwəy̓ əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱ wú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ ilwətaʔɬ/sel̓ ílwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, BC – The BC Civil Liberties Association, Union of BC Indian Chiefs, and Hogan’s Alley Society are calling on Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart, who is also the Vancouver Police Board Chair and Board Spokesperson, to immediately put a stop to police street checks in Vancouver.
Read moreIndigenous leaders condemn Police actions in death of Chantel Moore
BC First Nations Justice Council
British Columbia Assembly of First Nations
Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs
First Nations Summit
Indigenous leaders condemn Police actions in death of Chantel Moore
The young Nuu-chah-nulth mother had recently moved to Edmundston
(xwməθkwəy̓ əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱ wú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ ilwətaʔɬ/sel̓ ílwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, BC – First Nations leadership across BC is united in calling for a full and timely investigation in the matter of the police-involved death of Chantel Moore.
Chantel Moore died at the hands of police last night in Edmundston, New Brunswick.
Read more