Latest News

News Release
June 4, 2026

B.C. Chiefs Stand with First Nations Women Demanding PM Carney End the Second-Generation Cut-Off

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/ Vancouver, B.C. – June 4, 2026) Chiefs and leaders rallied at the UBCIC Chiefs Council Meeting yesterday urging Prime Minister Carney to meet with Sharon McIvor and First Nations women leaders immediately and to pass Bill S-2 as amended by the Senate without delay. The amended Bill, if passed, will remove remaining sex, race and marital status discrimination, and the second- generation cut-off from the Indian Act.

News Release
May 29, 2026

UBCIC Calls for Principled Reform of the B.C. Treaty Commission Process

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/ Vancouver, B.C. – May 29, 2026) Yesterday, Bill 20, the K’ómoks Treaty Act, passed third reading and progressed through Committee despite sustained opposition and unresolved concerns raised by neighbouring and affected First Nations regarding territorial overlap, failure to obtain consent, and impacts on inherent and constitutionally protected title and rights, and jurisdiction. The Legislature and provincial government ignored dispute resolution processes proposed by neighbouring and affected First Nations based on Indigenous law, and are plowing ahead with the ratification process on the last day of the spring session.

News Release
May 27, 2026

UBCIC Denounces Ongoing Residential School Denialism Campaign: Calls on Canada to Enshrine Legal Protections

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/ Vancouver, B.C. – May 27, 2026)  UBCIC was disappointed, disgusted and deeply concerned to learn that a Residential School denialist demonstration is planned at the B.C. Legislature today. UBCIC condemns the pattern of public demonstrations and publications questioning and downplaying the Residential School system and seeking to undermine active First Nations-led investigations under the guise of freedom of speech and academic freedom. We stand firmly and steadfastly with survivors and recognize their experience as truth.  

News Release
May 25, 2026

Fifth Anniversary of Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc Announcement: UBCIC Honours Residential School Survivors and Condemns Denialism

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/ Vancouver, B.C. – May 25, 2026) Five years ago on May 27th, 2021, Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation shared preliminary findings of an investigation into the grounds of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School that indicated the presence of over 200 potential burials. UBCIC stands in solemn solidarity with all survivors and intergenerational survivors, with all First Nations who are being actively harmed by Residential School denialism, and in defense of the truth.

News Release
May 21, 2026

UBCIC Opposes Proposed Alberta-to-B.C. Oil Pipeline

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/ Vancouver, B.C. – May 21, 2026) The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) is unequivocally opposed to renewed efforts by the federal and Alberta governments to advance a new oil pipeline to the British Columbia coast.

News Release
May 12, 2026

United Nations Advises Canada to Stop Assimilatory Effects of the Indian Act; First Nations Echo Calls to End Discrimination and Remove the Second-Generation Cut-off

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/ Vancouver, B.C. – May 12, 2026) - The United Nations Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP) took a significant step last week on May 7, 2026, issuing Technical Advice to Canada regarding implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UN Declaration) and Bill S-2 An Act to amend the Indian Act (new registration entitlements).

News Release
May 5, 2026

UBCIC in Ottawa to Demand End to Sex Discrimination and MMIWG2S+ Crisis after 150 Years of Indian Act Rule

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/ Vancouver, B.C. – May 5, 2026) Chief Marilyn Slett (K̓áwáziɫ), UBCIC Secretary-Treasurer, is in Ottawa today on the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls as a witness before the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs (the Committee) for its study of Bill S-2: An Act to Amend the Indian Act (“Bill S-2”) to urge Canada to end violence against Indigenous women and pass Bill S-2 without further delay.    

News Release
May 4, 2026

Court Affirms Importance of Defending Residential School Survivors and UBCIC’s Work Upholding Truth in Public Discourse

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/ Vancouver, B.C. – May 4, 2026) The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) celebrates the decision of the Supreme Court of British Columbia in Morton v. Union of BC Indian Chiefs, which affirms the critical importance of protecting UBCIC’s advocacy supporting residential school Survivors and addresses harmful misinformation in the public sphere.