Latest News

News Release
August 13, 2019

UBCIC, David Dennis and Frank Paul Society Challenge Racist Abstinence Exclusion for Liver Transplants

(Coast Salish Territory/Vancouver, B.C. – August 13, 2019) This morning, the Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC), David Dennis and the Frank Paul Society jointly filed a formal complaint at the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal. The complaint challenges the lawfulness of the Abstinence Policy that deprives persons with alcohol use disorder of eligibility for liver transplants until they have abstained from alcohol use for a period of six months.

NEWS RELEASE

Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation
First Nations Leadership Council

Nearly $200 million transferred to new First Nations revenue-sharing body

VICTORIA - This month, eligible First Nations in B.C. will start signing up to receive their share of new revenue that will support self-government and self-determination, strong, healthy communities and services that make life better for families.

August 12, 2019 

The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson
Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Via Email: [email protected] 

OPEN LETTER: Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s (DFO) Policy Not to Test for the Piscine Orthorevirus (PRV) Before Transferring Atlantic Salmon to the Open-Net Fish Farms (the PRV Policy) 

Dear Minister Wilkinson: 

The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) writes in support of the ‘Namgis First Nation’s position that the DFO should prohibit introductions of Atlantic salmon infected with PRV into open-net fish farms. The scientific evidence continues to show that PRV was likely introduced to British Columbia (BC) from Europe and is a foreign virus that can cause significant harm to populations of native, wild Pacific salmon.  Unfortunately, the DFO continues to ignore this risk even though it is unassailable: 

News Release
August 2 2019

UBCIC Supports the Gitanyow in their Appeal and Calls for
All First Nations’ Rights to be Respected Equally

(Coast Salish Territory/Vancouver, B.C. – August 2, 2019) The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) is applying for leave to the BC Court of Appeal to intervene in a critical case being advanced by the Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs. In the case under appeal, Gamlaxyeltxw v. British Columbia (Minister of Forests, Lands & Natural Resource Operations), the Hereditary Chiefs continue to defend the Aboriginal title and rights of the Gitanyow people.

News Release

July 29, 2019

UBCIC Calls on the Government of BC to uphold Tsilhqot’in Rights and protect Teẑtan Biny and Yanah Biny

(Coast Salish Territory / Vancouver, B.C. – July 29, 2019) For over two decades the Tsilhqot’in have battled to keep Taseko Mines Ltd. (TML) from destroying Teẑtan Biny and Yanah Biny with TML’s plan to create an open pit mine on a place of profound cultural and spiritual significance. Both TML and TNG have filed injunctions in B.C. Supreme Court and are in court today and tomorrow.

July 23, 2019   

The Honorable David Y. Ige

The Right Honorable Justin Trudeau

OPEN LETTER: The Sacred Ground of Mauna Kea and the Rights of the Kanaka Maoli Must be Honoured

Dear Governor David Ige and Prime Minister Trudeau,

The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) stands in solidarity with the Kanaka Maoli relatives and the people of Hawaii fighting to protect the sacred Mauna Kea from the intrusion of the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT), a project that has received $234 million in funding from the Canadian government and support from various Canadian universities.

NEWS RELEASE

July 12, 2019

Fraser River Salmon State of Emergency: 
BC First Nations urge swift action to save Fraser River salmon runs at risk due to Big Bar rockslide 

(Coast Salish Territory/Vancouver) BC First Nations are expressing grave concern over the possibility of significant losses to critical salmon runs on the Fraser River which are at risk due to the Big Bar rockslide that occurred in late June, and are calling on provincial and federal governments to take immediate action and prioritize saving the jeopardized salmon