Latest News

Media Release
23 January 2019

Open letter urges federal and provincial governments to suspend construction of Site C dam:
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier John Horgan can’t ignore recommendations of United Nations anti-racism committee

A new statement from the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (UNCERD) has underlined the urgency of immediately suspending construction of the Site C dam.

Wild Salmon Summit – Summary Report

On September 19-21, 2018, the British Columbia Assembly of First Nations (BCAFN), the First Nations Summit, and the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) hosted the “Wild Salmon Summit: In a Time of Reconciliation” at the Westin Wall Centre located on the unceded territory of the Musqueam Nation.

January 22, 2019

Honourable Carolyn Bennett

Minister of Crown Indigenous Relations

Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada
Terrasses de la Chaudière
10 Wellington North Tower
Gatineau QC K1A 0H4
Via fax: 1-866-817-3977
Via email: [email protected]

OPEN LETTER: Recall the Collaborative Process survey and honour the UN ruling on the Indian Act’s discrimination against women

Dear Minister Bennett,

The UN Human Rights Committee’s landmark decision on the Sharon McIvor case has called for a tide of progressive change regarding the discrimination enshrined in the Indian Act.

News Release

For Immediate Release

January 18, 2019

First Nations Leadership Council concerned about Federal Cabinet Shuffle and New Direction in Relationship

Coast Salish Traditional Territory/Vancouver: The First Nations Leadership Council is deeply concerned that the recent shuffle in the federal Liberal cabinet signals a wavering commitment to addressing Canada’s colonial history and to realizing a true nation-to-nation relationship with Indigenous peoples. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced adjustments to the government cabinet on January 14, 2019 with the appointment of Minister Seamus O’Reagan to the Department of Indigenous Services Canada, reassigning MP Jane Philpott to a Treasury Board appointment and the replacement of MP Jody Wilson-Raybould, now of Minister of Veteran Affairs, with Minister David Lametti, as Attorney General and Minister of Justice.

PRESS RELEASE

UN Rules That Canada's Indian Act Discriminates Against First Nations Women

(Vancouver, January 17, 2019) In a decision released January 14, the United Nations Human Rights Committee ruled that Canada continues to discriminate against First Nations women and their descendants by denying them the same entitlement to full s. 6(1)(a) status under the Indian Act as First Nations men and their descendants. This long-standing discrimination affects First Nations women's entitlement to status, their right to transmit status, and their equality with First Nations men.

National Claims Research Directors
c/o 401-312 Main Street Vancouver BC V6A 2T2

Open Letter to Minister Carolyn Bennett:
Canada Must Stop Misleading on Joint Claims Reform and Adequately Fund Specific Claims Research

January 16, 2019
Dear Minister Bennett,

The National Claims Research Directors (NCRD) is a national body of specialized technicians who manage thirty-five Claims Research Units (CRUs) mandated to research and develop specific claims against the federal government. Collectively we have developed and advanced over 1500 claims.

January 15, 2019

John W. Brewer
Superintendent, Officer; in Charge
Enhanced Community and Aboriginal Policing Services 
Via email: [email protected]

OPEN LETTER: UBCIC calls upon the RCMP to clarify inaccurate reports

Dear RCMP Division Liaison (DLT):

The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) writes today to rectify the erroneous reports from the DLT regarding actions taken by the RCMP during their enforcement of the interim injunction at the Gidimt’en checkpoint on January 7 and ongoing involvement at the site.

News Release
January 10, 2019

UBCIC Statement of Clarity in Response to Premier Horgan’s Comments on Unist’ot’en

(Coast Salish Territory/Vancouver, B.C. – January 10, 2019) Yesterday Premier John Horgan provided insufficient and inappropriate comments regarding the ongoing conflict in Wet’suwet’en territory. The Premier took a minimum approach to acceptable provincial standards for engagement with Indigenous peoples, in direct conflict with his government’s commitments to full implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UN Declaration).