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Respect Xinka Self-Determination over Canadian-Owned Mine in Guatemala

May 28^th, 2025

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/ Vancouver, B.C.) The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs and the Xinka Parliament of Guatemala call on the Canadian government and Pan American Silver to respect the Xinka People’s decision seeking the permanent closure of the Escobal mine in accord with their rights to self-determination under the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UN Declaration). On May 8, the Xinka People announced their unequivocal refusal to consent to the mine’s reopening in the culmination of a seven-year, court-mandated process.

Statement

May 27, 2025

On the 4^th Anniversary of the Kamloops Residential School Findings, UBCIC Calls for Residential School History to be Acknowledged and Survivors to be Respected

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/ Vancouver, B.C. – May 27, 2025) Today UBCIC observes the fourth anniversary of the announcement by Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc of approximately 200 potential unmarked graves at the grounds of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School. In the years since, First Nations across the country have engaged in rigorous investigations documenting the archival and archaeological histories of Indian Residential Schools, including the thousands of children who died there.

May 26, 2025

OPEN LETTER: Bills 14 and 15

Dear Premier Eby:

We are writing to raise our serious concerns about communications and representations that were made about Bills 14 and 15 to the First Nations Leadership Council (“FNLC”) at the All Chiefs meeting with you on May 15, 2025. In this meeting you heard directly from dozens of First Nations regarding their opposition to the Bills, many of whom have also sent you related correspondence.

News Release 
May 15, 2025

Kill the Bill: First Nations Call on B.C. Government to Immediately Withdraw Bill 14 and Bill 15

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) This morning the First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) held an emergency meeting with First Nations leaders to discuss the potential impacts of Bill 14 and Bill 15 on title and rights and articulate their concerns to Premier Eby, who attended for a portion of the meeting. The Chiefs and leaders in attendance stood united in rejecting the Bills and asked Premier Eby to immediately withdraw Bill 14 and 15. They were deeply disappointed with Premier Eby’s response that he plans to continue advancing the Bills despite their clear opposition.

News Release 
May 6, 2025

FNLC Questions Regressive, Conflated Infrastructure Projects Act; Alarmed by Province’s Backsliding on Reconciliation Efforts

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) is raising serious concerns about the Province’s recently introduced and deeply problematic Infrastructure Projects Act (Bill 15) and is alarmed by the Province’s continued backsliding on its reconciliation efforts, including substantive implementation of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (Declaration Act).

News Release
May 5, 2025

Tatyanna Harrison’s Cause of Death Disputed by Independent Forensic Pathologist: Families, Justice For Girls, and UBCIC Call for Coroner’s Inquest into Deaths of Tatyanna Harrison, Chelsea Poorman and Noelle O’Soup

Unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-waututh) Nations (Vancouver) | May 5, 2025 — Today on Red Dress Day, the families of Tatyanna Harrison, Chelsea Poorman and Noelle O’Soup, alongside Justice For Girls and the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs are calling on Hon. Garry Begg B.C. Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General to direct an inquest into2025-05-05 these deaths, following an independent Forensic Pathologist’s review that disputes the findings of the B.C. Coroners Office regarding the cause of Tatyanna Harrison’s death.

News Release
May 2, 2025

Katisha Paul, UBCIC Youth Representative, Elected Global Indigenous Youth Caucus Co-Chair at the United Nations Permanent Forum

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/ Vancouver, B.C. – May 2, 2025) The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) proudly shares that Katisha Paul (W̱ JOȽEȽP and Lil’wat), UBCIC Youth Representative, has been elected UN Global Indigenous Youth Caucus Co-Chair at the 2025 United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII).