Coast Salish Territory (Vancouver, BC) - First Nations leadership and child-serving organizations gathered over the past two days, along with representatives of the Government of British Columbia and the Government of Canada - to discuss the current crisis in Indigenous child welfare in British Columbia.

(Coast Salish Territory/Vancouver) Senior First Nations leadership in BC are thanking Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, BC’s Representative for Children and Youth, for her recent special report detailing serious concerns about the unbalanced review carried out by Mr. Bob Plecas for the Province of BC.  

Dear Premier Clark,

Mr. Plecas has written a report called Decision Time as a special independent advisor to you and the Minister for Children and Families. Mr. Plecas was originally hired to review the J.P. case but his mandate was expanded to include an “interim report on the comparative analysis of applicable legislation, policy, standards and practice and recommendations for the improvement of Ministry, and other, systemic processes”.

November 19, 2015

BC Climate Leadership Team:

Jordan Sturdy, MLA
Susan Laaksonen-Craig, Climate Action Secretariat
Nancy Olewiler, SFU
Dr. Thomas F. Pederson, Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions
Dr. James Tansey, UBC and Offsetters
Linda Hepner, City of Surrey
Paul Ives, Town of Comox
Luke Strimbold, Village of Burns Lake
Tzeporah Berman, York University
Matt Horne, Pembina Institute
Merran Smith, Clean Energy Canada
James Gorman, West Fraser Timber
David Keane, BC LNG Alliance
Greg McDougall, Harbour Air
Tim Newton, Formerly BC Hydro; Power Ex
Chief Ian Campbell, Squamish First Nation
Chief Michelle Edwards, Cayoose Creek
Chief Zach Parker, Ulkatcho First Nation

OPEN LETTER: BC Climate Leadership Team Must Oppose Site C

(Coast Salish Territory/Vancouver, B.C. – June 25, 2015) The Union of BC Indian Chiefs is proud to congratulate Chief Shane Gottfriedson, Tk’emlups te Secwepemc, on his successful election to the position of Regional Chief of the BC Assembly of First Nations (BCAFN). BC First Nations Chiefs met today at the 12th BCAFN Annual General Meeting, and elected Chief Gottfriedson on the first ballot, with a majority of the votes cast.

(Coast Salish Territory/Vancouver - March 30, 2015) – The BC Assembly of First Nations, First Nations Summit and Union of BC Indian Chiefs are expressing full support for the Heiltsuk First Nation in their complete opposition to a commercial roe herring fishery in 2015 due to ongoing conservation concerns for herring in their territory.

(Coast Salish Territory/Vancouver - March 17, 2015) – Ten years ago, on March 17, 2005, an historic Leadership Accord was signed by the BC Assembly of First Nations (BCAFN), First Nations Summit (FNS) and Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC), formalizing a collaborative working relationship among the three First Nations political territorial organizations in BC that had not existed previously.