Latest News

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.

UPDATED MEDIA ADVISORY OF PRESS CONFERENCE (11:30am) AND RALLY:

Indigenous Youth, Supported by Leadership, to Host Rally outside the BC Legislature on Throne Speech Day Calling for Province to Respect Wet’suwet’en Law and End the Violence

WHAT:                 The RCMP are carrying out a violent raid on unceded Wet’suwet’en territory under Provincial and Federal watch to enforce Coastal GasLink’s injunction. Indigenous youth, the Union of BC Indian Chiefs, and allies including ENGOs, municipal, provincial and federal representatives will gather in solidarity with the Wet’suwet’en Nation.  Speakers will respond to the unlawful escalation of the RCMP and violations of Wet’suwet’en law and Indigenous rights taking place under the orders of the injunction. They will also address the lands and waters at stake, and the responsibilities and roles of the Province.

News Release
February 6, 2020

#AllEyesonWetsuweten: RCMP Violently Remove Wet’suwet’en from their Territories while BC and Canada Stand By

((Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ilwətaʔɬ/sel̓ílwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – February 6, 2020) In the middle of the night, the RCMP began aggressively raiding Wet’suwet’en traditional and unceded territories.  This senseless violence was carried out under the watch of the Provincial and Federal Governments.

News Release
February 4, 2020

Federal Court of Appeal’s Ruling on TMX Brazenly Attacks Indigenous Title and Rights and Threatens Climate

((Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ilwətaʔɬ/sel̓ílwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – February 4, 2020) Today the Federal Court of Appeal overruled the four challenges to the federal government’s re-approval of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion (TMX). The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) is deeply disappointed by the court’s decision in Coldwater Indian Band et al. v. Attorney General of Canada et al. that gives the greenlight to a pipeline project that will contribute to carbon emissions, environmental harm, and violations of Indigenous Title and Rights. 

MEDIA ADVISORY OF PRESS CONFERENCE: Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Leadership, BCCLA, UBCIC and Legal Coalition file complaint about RCMP Checkpoint and Exclusion Zone

January 29, 2020
For Immediate Release

WHAT:A coalition is calling on the Chairperson of the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP to initiate a policy complaint and public interest investigation regarding the improper and unlawful actions of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (“RCMP) in implementing and enforcing a checkpoint and exclusion zone on Morice West Forest Service Road in Wet’suwet’en territory.

They will speak about the policy complaint, which includes eight first-hand accounts, and answer media questions.

WHO: The Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs, the BC Civil Liberties Association, and the Union of BC Indian Chiefs have filed the policy complaint with the endorsement of West Coast Environmental Law and Pivot Legal Society.

DATE: Thursday January 30, 2020

TIME: 9:00 a.m. PST

LOCATION:   UBCIC Boardroom- 312 Main Street, 4^th floor, Vancouver

SPEAKERS:

• Dini’ze Na’moks (John Ridsdale), Tsayu Clan, Wet’suwet’en (via skype)
• Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, President, Union of BC Indian Chiefs
• Harsha Walia, Executive Director, BC Civil Liberties Association
• Irina Ceric: Faculty member at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, non-practicing Lawyer excluded from the RCMP Exclusion Zone

LIVESTREAM: https://www.facebook.com/UBCIC/

PHONE IN AVAILBLE:
Outside of Vancouver: 877-385-4099
Lower Mainland: 604-899-2339
Access code: 40316#

Media contact:
Ellena Neel, 778-866-0548 [email protected]

Download PDF

News Release
January 29, 2020

Indigenous Youth Arrested in Solidarity with Wet’suwet’en File Complaint about Police Conduct

(Lekwungen and W̱SÁNEĆ territories, B.C. – January 29, 2020) Indigenous youth arrested last week held a press conference this morning condemning the police and RCMP’s violent conduct toward Indigenous peoples and reiterating their full support for the Wet’suwet’en land defenders.