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Statement

September 9, 2022

For Immediate Release

First Nations Leadership Council Marks the End of Queen Elizabeth II’s Reign; Calls on King Charles III to Renounce the Doctrine of Discovery

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) acknowledges the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. She was the longest reigning monarch in the history of the British Crown, and the FNLC offers condolences to her family as they grieve. Queen Elizabeth’s successor, King Charles III takes on a great responsibility as the representative of the Crown, with whom all Indigenous peoples in Canada have a direct relationship. The FNLC believes his first official act must be renunciation of the Doctrine of Discovery.

The BC Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA), Pivot Legal Society, #Justice for Jared, The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) and the family of Haida Elder Jimmie Johannesson announce calls to action five months after Surrey RCMP Fatality

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Unceded territories of the Semiahmoo, Katzie, Kwikwetlem, Kwantlen, Stz’uminus, Sto:lo, and Tsawwassen First Nations/Surrey, B.C. – September 8, 2022) A coalition of advocates is coming together today to mark the 5-month anniversary of Jimmie Johannesson’s death and to join Jimmie’s sister Ruby Marks in demanding that BC and Canada urgently reform policing. 

Statement
September 6, 2022

UBCIC Shares Condolences with James Smith Cree Nation Stabbing Victims; Calls for Immediate End to Violence

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – September 6, 2022) A shelter in place alert has been issued to residents of James Smith Cree Nation after a possible sighting of Myles Sanderson who is accused of killing 10 people and injuring 18 others in a brutal mass stabbing along with his deceased brother Damien Sanderson.

News Release
August 31, 2022

International Overdose Awareness Day: UBCIC Calls for Urgent Action by All Levels of Government

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – August 31, 2022) The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) observes International Overdose Awareness Day and mourns the over 10,000 lives lost to drug poisoning since April 2016.

PRESS RELEASE, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, August 30 2022

B.C. government misleading public about old growth

Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs and Stand.earth renew calls on the provincial government to immediately stop logging in the most at-risk old growth forests in light of latest investigation findings

səl̓ílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), and Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) Territories (Vancouver, BC) — Stand.earth released an investigative report today that reveals the extent of the B.C. government’s inaction on old growth, which has allowed the ongoing destruction of some of the most ancient, rare old growth forests across the province – all in areas that it announced it intended to stop logging last November. The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) and Stand.earth are renewing calls on the provincial government to act immediately to stop logging in the most at-risk old growth forests. 

Statement
August 26, 2022

UBCIC Mourns the Tragic Murder of Ojibway Father and Grandfather by the VPD; Demands Immediate Reform

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – August 26, 2022) On August 22^nd, 2022, Chris Amyotte, an Ojibway father and grandfather, was shot and killed with a “less than lethal” gun by the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) who responded to calls of “a man acting erratically”; however, witnesses report that Chris was in extreme distress, pleading for bystanders to call 9-1-1 for help after being sprayed with mace.

News Release

August 18, 2022

UBCIC Granted Standing in “Trucker Convoy” Public Order Emergency Commission

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – August 16, 2022) The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) is pleased to announce that we have been granted standing in the Public Order Emergency Commission (“the Commission”), a federally-established public inquiry. It was established to review the circumstances and decision by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to declare a Public Order Emergency from February 14-23, 2022 in the Ottawa area.

Statement
August 2, 2022

UBCIC Statement on Pope’s Apology for Residential Schools

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – August 2, 2022) The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) monitored Pope Francis’s long-awaited visit to Turtle Island last week to apologize for the Catholic Church’s role in Residential Schools. On a departing flight, the Pope spoke to a reporter and finally agreed that the abuses Indigenous peoples endured amounted to genocide; he failed to renounce the Doctrine of Discovery.