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News Release   

November 27, 2019

Canada’s Lack of Transparency and Accountability to 
First Nations Children and Families Furthers Denial & Discrimination 

(Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ilwətaʔɬ/sel̓ílwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) — The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) is expressing profound frustration with Canada’s continued attempts to distract and avoid paying the compensation it has been ordered to by the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (CHRT). Canada is seeking a stay of proceedings and judicial review of the CHRT decision in First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada and Assembly of First Nations et al. v. Attorney General of Canada (for the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada), (2019 CHRT 39) in hearings that began on November 25^th in Ottawa. In a last-minute attempt to distract and delay, Canada issued a statement yesterday indicating they would be willing to settle a separate class action rather than pay out the compensation as ordered by the CHRT.

Joint statement on B.C. Indigenous human rights legislation passing unanimously

Scott Fraser, Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation; Regional Chief Terry Teegee, BC Assembly of First Nations; Cheryl Casimer, First Nations Summit; Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, Union of BC Indian Chiefs; and Adam Olsen, MLA for Saanich North and the Islands and member of Tsartlip First Nation, have issued the following statement:

“Today, we have made history. British Columbia is the first province in Canada to enshrine the human rights of Indigenous peoples in law. Bill 41, the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples act, passed unanimously on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2019.

News Release
November 26, 2019

First Nations Leadership Council Statement:
Call for Support and Passage of Bill 41

(Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ilwətaʔɬ/sel̓ílwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) is tremendously supportive of the NDP Government’s introduction of Bill 41: Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, which represents a significant step forward in Crown-Indigenous relations in British Columbia. We are deeply concerned that the progression of Bill 41 is being jeopardized through delay at the Committee stage.

News Release
November 24, 2019

Indigenous Survivors of Child Welfare, their Families and Allies Rally to Demand Justice and Accountability

((Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ilwətaʔɬ/sel̓ílwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – November 24, 2019) Today, Indigenous survivors of child welfare, their families and community allies are holding a march and rally in Vancouver to call for justice, action and accountability for all Indigenous survivors of child welfare. Solidarity actions will take place in Edmonton and Toronto.

Indigenous Leaders in British Columbia and Guatemala Demand that Mining Companies Respect their Self-Determination at Home and Abroad

(((Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ilwətaʔɬ/sel̓ílwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C): Representatives of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) and the Xinka Indigenous Parliament of Guatemala joined forces Wednesday night to call on Canadian mining companies to respect Indigenous rights no matter where they operate.

UBCIC Statement
November 14, 2019

((Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ilwətaʔɬ/sel̓ílwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – November 14, 2019) The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) was deeply disappointed to learn today that there are reports of historic sexual violence carried out by Grand Chief Ed John, and criminal charges have been laid based on incidents that are reported to have occurred in 1974. The UBCIC does not have a direct employment relationship with Grand Chief Ed John.

News Release
November 5, 2019

UBCIC Remembers and Honours George Saddleman

((Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ilwətaʔɬ/sel̓ílwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – November 5, 2019) It is with great sorrow and loss that the Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) received the news that our dear friend and Elders Representative, George Saddleman, Upper Nicola Indian Band, passed away. We would like to convey our deepest condolences to his family members, friends, and loved ones.

News Release
October 25, 2019

UBCIC Marches for Climate Justice with Greta Thunberg

((Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ilwətaʔɬ/sel̓ílwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – October 25, 2019) Today the Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) will stand and march proudly alongside Greta Thunberg and the thousands of young climate strikers who are sending a clear post-election message to our political leaders that the time for uncompromising and sustained climate change action is now. Climate strikers will assemble at the Vancouver Art Gallery at 11 a.m. before marching through downtown and hearing from special guests, including Grand Chief Stewart Philip, President of UBCIC and Greta Thunberg.