Canada: Climate Change and the Cultural Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Submission to:
Ms. Karima Bennoune, Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights
Via email: [email protected]
May 1, 2020
Prepared by:
Indigenous Climate Action and the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs
INTRODUCTION:
Indigenous peoples living on Turtle Island in the area of Kanáta - Canada are diverse. With approximately 56 different languages, peoples and protocols, they anxiously and precariously defend their tangible and intangible cultural rights. The common struggle to all Indigenous peoples living in Canada remains the racist colonial Doctrines’[1] persistent oppressive and assimilative laws and policies designed to dispossess Indigenous peoples from their Homelands and resources.
Read moreGovernments must respect First Nations Jurisdiction
STATEMENT
For Immediate Release
April 29, 2020
Governments must respect First Nations Jurisdiction
(xwməθkwəy̓ əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱ wú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ ilwətaʔɬ/sel̓ ílwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, BC): The First Nations Leadership Council is urging all levels of government, federal, provincial and municipal, to recognize and respect First Nations jurisdiction and decisions as they take actions to protect their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is critical for all levels of governments to include and work collaboratively with neighbouring First Nations in our collective efforts in the fight against COVID-19.
Read moreFNLC OFFERS CONDOLENCES IN THE DEATH OF INFANT IN THE DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE
Statement
APRIL 24, 2020
FNLC OFFERS CONDOLENCES IN THE DEATH OF INFANT IN THE DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE
(Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ilwətaʔɬ/sel̓ílwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) The First Nations Leadership Council was deeply saddened to learn of the tragic death of an infant in the Vancouver Downtown Eastside earlier this week and sends sincerest and heartfelt condolences to the mother and all residents of the Downtown Eastside community during this time.
Read moreOPEN LETTER: Indigenous Leaders, Doctors, Nurses And Others Call For Closure Of Construction Camps
April 21, 2020
Premier John Horgan
BC Minister of Health Adrian Dix
BC Centre for Disease Control
We, the undersigned, are writing to request that you immediately shut down construction activities at all B.C.'s large industrial work camps and megaprojects.
Three factors make this step urgent.
Indigenous Leaders, Doctors, Nurses And Others Call For Closure Of Construction Camps
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Indigenous Leaders, Doctors, Nurses And Others Call For Closure Of Construction Camps
In general, B.C's response to the pandemic appears to be showing promising results. Yesterday ((Monday) there were 52 new cases reported in B.C. (a two-day total), compared with one-day totals of 606 in Ontario and 836 in Quebec. This is grounds for some cautious optimism, but we should not lose sight of the fact there are still significant vulnerabilities within our province's overall response. One of these is the Downtown Eastside and B.C.'s homeless population, where the first Covid-19 cases are being reported. Another is the province's prison system, where there are significant outbreaks and the first deaths being recorded. A third point of vulnerability is long-term care facilities, where a high death rate has taken place in over two dozen infected facilities.
Read moreUBCIC Calls for Emergency Interjurisdictional Meeting to Address Housing the Homeless during COVID-19 Crisis
News Release
April 20, 2020
UBCIC Calls for Emergency Interjurisdictional Meeting to Address Housing the Homeless during COVID-19 Crisis
(xwməθkwəy̓ əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱ wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlR ilwətaʔɬ/selR ílwitulh (TsleilWaututh)/Vancouver, BC. – April 20, 2020) The day after a group of homeless advocates and their supporters temporarily occupied a portion of an elementary school in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside (DTES), the Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) is calling for swift action from governments and agencies to house the homeless during COVID-19 and beyond.
Read moreCOVID-19 in prisons stands to be a death sentence for overincarcerated Indigenous peoples
BC First Nations Justice Council
British Columbia Assembly of First Nations
Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs
First Nations Summit
COVID-19 in prisons stands to be a death sentence for overincarcerated Indigenous peoples
Indigenous leadership demand proactive response from governments
(xwməθkwəy̓ əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱ wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlR ilwətaʔɬ/selR ílwitulh (TsleilWaututh)/Vancouver, BC – First Nations leadership across BC is united in calling for immediate action to protect incarcerated peoples amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read moreRights Groups React to Prisoner Death in Custody; Call for Public Inquest and Immediate Release of Prisoners to Stop Dangerous Spread of COVID-19
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Rights Groups React to Prisoner Death in Custody; Call for Public Inquest and Immediate Release of Prisoners to Stop Dangerous Spread of COVID-19
April 17, 2020, VANCOUVER, Coast Salish Territories – Prisoner rights, human rights, Indigenous and civil liberties groups are reacting to the horrific news of a death in Correctional Service of Canada’s custody of a person incarcerated at Mission Institution in BC. Mission Institution is the site of the largest COVID-19 outbreak at a federal institution in the country.