Latest News

News Release
October 1, 2026

UBCIC Rejects “National Interest” Designation for Toxic West Coast Oil “Pacific Link” Pipeline 

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/ Vancouver, B.C. – October 1, 2026) Today, the federal government announced designation of the West Coast Oil “Pacific Link” Pipeline (Pacific Link pipeline) as a project of national interest, despite an incomplete consultation process that ignored First Nations inherent and constitutionally protected title and rights, and that ignored the dangerous impacts of increased fossil fuel extraction and transmission. The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) reiterates that First Nations’ title and rights cannot be set aside to meet a political timeline, and that opposition from affected Nations must be respected.

News Release
September 30, 2026

Court Reaffirms Importance of Confronting Residential School Denialism ahead of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/ Vancouver, B.C. – September 30, 2026) The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) recognizes National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day with condemnation of residential school denialism and renewed calls for public education on the history of residential schools, legal protections from denialism, safety and support for survivors.  

News Release
September 29, 2026

First Nations Leadership Council Condemns White Nationalist Activity in Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc Territory 

(xʷməθkʷəy̓ əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (TsleilWaututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) was disgusted and angered to learn of the stark demonstration of racialized hate apparently associated with the white nationalist and supremacist group “Second Sons” on Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc reserve lands on September 27, 2026, the anonymous cowards were seen holding a banner that said, “Got Bones?”, seemingly questioning the well documented existence of unmarked graves at the sites of former Indian Residential Schools. The FNLC stands with and supports Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc as they deal with the fallout of this despicable act, and call on Prime Minister Mark Carney and B.C. Premier David Eby to join events hosted by Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

News Release
September 24, 2026

UBCIC Women’s Declaration: Protecting Our Women and Our Lands against Violence of Major Projects

(Shxwhá:y Village (Stó:lō Territory)/ Chilliwack, B.C. – September 24, 2026) Women delegates of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) gathered yesterday during the 58^th UBCIC Annual General Assembly for a Women’s Gathering, “Honouring Our Matriarchs, Protecting Future Generations.”  Women leaders sounded the alarm over the swift advancement of provincial and federal major projects without First Nations’ free, prior, and informed consent, the erosion of environmental protections and First Nations women’s rights and safety, and heightened risks of gender-based violence and the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit+ Peoples (MMIWG2S+) crisis in relation to resource extraction. 

News Release    
September 15, 2026

FNLC Celebrates the 19th Anniversary, Urges Full Implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: Revitalize Reconciliation, Justice and True Partnership

(Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) On the 19th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (the UN Declaration) as a global human rights standard, the First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) celebrates commitments and progress toward strengthening First Nations’ self-determination by supporting First Nations’ governance and decision-making autonomy within their Nations and territories.

September 8, 2026    

Hon. Mark Carney
Prime Minister of Canada
Government of Canada

Hon. Minister Gull-Masty
Minister of Indigenous Services Canada
Government of Canada

OPEN LETTER: Pass Bill S-2 as Amended, without Distractions or Delays

Dear Prime Minister Carney and Minister Gull-Masty,

We are writing to express our ongoing concern with the Government of Canada’s delays in passing Bill S-2 as amended, to eliminate discrimination and remove the second-generation cut-off from the Indian Act. After decades of consultation with First Nations, input from First Nations women experts, and advice from United Nations human rights bodies, parliamentary committees and academic research, it is undisputed that the second-generation cut-off will result in the legal extinction of First Nations in a matter of generations and that Canada is legally obligated to cease discriminating now. We call on the Government of Canada in the strongest of possible terms to stop the politics of delay and pass Bill S-2, as amended, to remove the second-generation cut-off once and for all.

August 9th, 2026

OPEN LETTER: Wildfires and Floods are Devastating Communities; Canada and Alberta Must Stop Expanding the Fossil Fuel Industry and Respect First Nations Rights 

Dear Prime Minister Carney and Premier Smith:

Today, on the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, the Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) calls on the governments of Canada and Alberta to immediately halt efforts to advance the proposed West Coast Oil Pipeline.  This proposal threatens both the inherent rights of First Nations and accelerates the expansion of the fossil fuel industry at a time when communities across the country are already experiencing devastating climate disasters. Canada cannot claim to respect Indigenous rights while ignoring free, prior and informed consent, nor can it claim climate leadership while approving infrastructure designed to expand oil production.  This day recognizes the rights, cultures, knowledge, and enduring contributions of Indigenous Peoples around the world, but it must also be a day of accountability. Governments cannot celebrate Indigenous Peoples while making decisions about our lands and waters without us.

August 6, 2026

OPEN LETTER: Urgent call to renew and sustain federal funding for MMIWG2S+ 

Dear Prime Minister Carney and Minister Alty,

Members of the Coalition on Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit+ People (MMIWG2S+) in B.C. (“The Coalition”) write to express our grave concern regarding the federal government’s decision to allow critical funding for MMIWG2S+ supports, Indigenous women’s organizations, families, survivors and community-led initiatives to sunset without adequate notice, transparency or a clear plan for renewal. We call on you to work with the Minister of Women and Gender Equality, the Minister of Finance and National Revenue, families and survivors and Indigenous women’s organizations to: