Latest News

RE: Cancellation of March 12 Afternoon and March 13 Sessions

March 12, 2020

After careful consideration of prevailing medical guidance, the First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) is cancelling the remaining sessions of the All Chiefs’ Meeting on Shared Territories and Overlaps due to the increasing risks associated with COVID-19.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wet’suwet’en, BCCLA, and UBCIC Release Explosive Letter Revealing BC Solicitor General Authorizing RCMP Deployment, Contradicting Public Statements

VANCOUVER/ (Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ilwətaʔɬ/sel̓ílwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) territories, March 6, 2020 – Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs, BC Civil Liberties Association and Union of BC Indian Chiefs are releasing a letter dated January 27, 2020 from BC Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth to RCMP Deputy Commissioner Jennifer Strachan.

News Release
February 23, 2020

Teck Withdraws Frontier Mine Proposal Amidst a Volatile Oil Market Forced to Respond to the Climate Emergency

((Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ilwətaʔɬ/sel̓ílwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – February 23, 2020) Tonight, Teck Resources Ltd. made the stunning announcement that it has withdrawn its proposal for the Frontier Oilsands Mine, which would have been the largest open pit oilsands mine in Canada. The announcement came days before Canada was set to make a decision on the project, and in the middle of a protracted and tense national crisis over the proposed Coastal Gaslink pipeline in unceded Wet’suwet’en territory.

Media Statement
February 21, 2020

UBCIC Supports Indigenous Land Defense and  Acknowledges CPR Joining Call for Trudeau to meet Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Leadership

((Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ilwətaʔɬ/sel̓ílwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – February 21, 2020) The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) recognizes the Canadian Pacific Railway’s (CPR) honourable conduct in relation to Secwepemcul’ecw Land Defenders who occupied part of the railway yesterday. Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, UBCIC President, stated “CPR chose direct and respectful engagement with Secwepemcul’ecw Land Defenders instead of calling for an injunction that would have resulted in arrests.  In a letter released today, CPR supported the Wet’suwet’en in their request for dialogue with Prime Minister Trudeau and called upon Trudeau to immediately fulfill this request. We hope Trudeau listens to this call and responds accordingly instead of repeatedly calling for ‘the barricades to come down’ when he knows full well that this could incite violence.”

February 19, 2020

MEDIA ADVISORY OF PRESS CONFERENCE: Wet’suwet’en, BCCLA and UBCIC Release CRCC Chairperson Response Regarding RCMP Exclusion Zone

WHAT: Citing significant public interest in the matter, the Chairperson of the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission (CRCC) for the RCMP, Michelaine Lahaie, has issued a response to Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs, Union of BC Indian Chiefs, and BC Civil Liberties Association’s call for an investigation regarding the improper and unlawful actions of the RCMP in in Wet’suwet’en territory. The hard-hitting response by Michelaine Lahaie will be released to the media and addressed by the speakers.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Civil Liberties and Human Rights Complainants Oppose VPD Street Check Recommendations; Disagree with Key Findings of Street Check Review

February 18, 2020, Vancouver – The BC Civil Liberties Association, Union of BC Indian Chiefs, and Black Lives Matter-Vancouver are highly concerned about the key findings of a Vancouver Police Board Street Check Review. The groups are also opposed to the resulting recommendations going to the Vancouver Police Board meeting this week.

News Release
February 12, 2020

Days after Indigenous Peoples are Forcibly Removed from their Territories, Throne Speech Highlights Reconciliation

((Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ilwətaʔɬ/sel̓ílwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – February 11, 2020) In the dark shadow of the RCMP’s unlawful invasion onto unceded Wet’suwet’en territory and violent enforcement of Coastal GasLink’s injunction, yesterday the NDP government unveiled their throne speech at the BC Legislature to the exuberant sounds of a Wet’suwet’en solidarity rally protesting outside.

February 12, 2020

OPEN LETTER: UBCIC calls on Canada to reject the Teck Frontier oil sands mine

Dear Prime Minister Trudeau and Minister Wilkinson:

We are writing to raise our grave concerns regarding Teck Resources Ltd.’s (Teck) proposed oil sands mine that is currently pending approval by the government of Canada. The Teck Frontier project is an open pit oil sands mine that would occupy over 290 square kilometers of old-growth forest, wetlands, and habitat for at-risk species. If approved, it will be constructed a mere 30 km south of Alberta`s Wood Buffalo National Park, extending oil sands development and its attendant environmental effects further north. In addition to the proposed mine`s impacts on Indigenous Title and Rights, and risks to the local and regional environment, it also represents a major set-back for Canada's commitments on emissions reduction.