(Coast Salish Territory/Vancouver, B.C. – May 20, 2015) As of September 30, 2015 the First Nations Social Development Society (FNSDS) will no longer have funding to support essential social programs for on-reserve social assistance programs.  

Adam E. Thompson, Committee Clerk
National Security and Defence Senate Committee
Senate of Canada
Tel: 1-613-990-6160
Fax: 1-613-947-2104

RE: UBCIC OPEN LETTER REGARDING BILL C-51: ANTI-TERRORISM ACT, 2015

Dear National Security and Defence Senate Committee,

We are writing to inform you of our deep concerns regarding Bill C-51 Anti-terrorism Act, 2015. The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) is an Indigenous political advocacy organization representing over 100 First Nations in British Columbia and we stand strongly in opposition to Bill C-51. The proposed Bill completely sweeps aside and fundamentally undermines our rights as Indigenous Peoples to exercise, assert and defend our inherent Aboriginal Title, Rights and Treaty Rights. Let us remind you, these inherent rights are judicially and constitutionally recognized and Bill C-51 completely disregards the Canadian Constitution Act and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

April 22, 2015

Dear Minister Valcourt,

The First Nations Social Development Society (FNSDS) and the Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) are writing to request that you investigate and intervene in the decision by AANDC-BC to cease support for Persons with Disability on Reserve and support for on-reserve income assistance support for all 203 First Nations in BC. FNSDS has been providing these vital services to First Nations communities for over 10 years. Further, we are writing to request that you immediately reinstate and enhance all service funding to FNSDS along with new provisions which allow FNSDS to have secured funding for the next 2 years.