UBCIC Congratulates Esk’etemc on the Historic Settlement of their Water Rights Specific Claim

News Release
July 25, 2024

UBCIC Congratulates Esk’etemc on the Historic Settlement of their Water Rights Specific Claim

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/ Vancouver, B.C. – July 25, 2024) The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) congratulates Esk’etemc (formerly known as the Alkali Lake Indian Band) on achieving an historic $147 million settlement with the federal government under Canada’s Specific Claims Policy for the loss of water rights associated with Indian Reserve 6 (Wycott’s Flat, or Tsqewt).

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FNLC Responds to RCY’s “Don’t Look Away” Report; Calls for Truth, Collective Accountability, and Urgent Supports for Our Children

News Release 
July 16, 2024

FNLC Responds to RCY’s “Don’t Look Away” Report; Calls for Truth, Collective Accountability, and Urgent Supports for Our Children

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) Today, the Representative for Children and Youth (RCY) released a report titled “Don’t Look Away” which details the broken system for child protection and care in B.C. The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) pleads for children to be placed at the center and calls for careful review and full implementation of the recommendations.

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5th Anniversary of National Inquiry: UBCIC Calls for Government Collaboration to Implement Calls for Justice

News Release
June 30, 2024

5th Anniversary of National Inquiry: UBCIC Calls for Government Collaboration to Implement Calls for Justice

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/ Vancouver, B.C. – June 30, 2024) Today marks the 5th anniversary of the conclusion of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (the National Inquiry). The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) is deeply concerned that independent progress reports by the CBC and the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) evaluating advances made on implementation of the 231 Calls for Justice (C4J) show minimal or no progress on the vast majority of the calls.

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UBCIC Reaffirms Need for Consent-Based Treaty Negotiations

Statement
June 27, 2024
 
UBCIC Reaffirms Need for Consent-Based Treaty Negotiations
 
(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/ Vancouver, B.C. – June 27, 2024). The Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) has consistently expressed opposition to the fundamentally flawed B.C. Treaty Commission (BCTC) Process which enables infringement of the inherent and Aboriginal rights of First Nations by allowing treaty negotiations to proceed despite known and outstanding shared territory and overlap disputes and is not consent-based.
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The Land is Our Future: UBCIC Celebrates the Work of Indigenous Peoples and Calls for Further Action

News Release
June 21, 2024
 
The Land is Our Future: UBCIC Celebrates the Work of Indigenous Peoples and Calls for Further Action
 
(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/ Vancouver, B.C. – June 21, 2024) Today, as we celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day, the Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) reflects upon the critical work done by Indigenous peoples worldwide and by First Nations people in British Columbia. As we celebrate advancements in the implementation of our inherent title and rights, there is an extreme amount of work that still needs to be done.
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UBCIC Welcomes Announcement of Canada’s Fish Farm Transition Plan

News Release
June 20, 2024
 
UBCIC Welcomes Announcement of Canada’s Fish Farm Transition Plan
 
(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/ Vancouver, B.C. – June 20, 2024) Yesterday, the Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard announced a five-year Fish Farm Transition Plan which will see all open net-pen fishing transition to closed containment by 2029.The UBCIC is supportive of the transition plan which is in line with UBCIC Chiefs Council Resolutions and recommendations including calling for First Nations monitoring and oversite to help attain the stated government objective to rebuild trust in DFO science and management decision making.
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UBCIC Stands with Survivors and Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc 3 Years After Announcement of 215 Unmarked Graves

News Release
May 27, 2024

UBCIC Stands with Survivors and Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc 3 Years After Announcement of 215 Unmarked Graves

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/ Vancouver, B.C. – May 27, 2024) The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) observes the third anniversary of the tragic announcement that 215 suspected unmarked graves of children were found at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School. Today, UBCIC calls for governments and the public to implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action and validate the truths therein.

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No Time to Spare: B.C.’s Old Growth Action Plan Highlights the Critical Importance of Saving Ancient Trees

For Immediate Release:

No Time to Spare: B.C.’s Old Growth Action Plan Highlights the Critical Importance of Saving Ancient Trees

May 22, 2024

səl̓ílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), and Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) Territories (Vancouver, BC) – Yesterday the Province released its Old Growth Action Plan, “From Review to Action.” The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) and Stand.earth are calling on Premier David Eby to immediately issue emergency logging bans in the most at-risk old growth forests, and to align all sectors with the Old Growth Strategic Review.

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