During the February 4th, 2026 All Chiefs’ virtual meeting, the First Nations Leadership Council encouraged First Nations and First Nations Organizations to sign on to the online statement (also pasted below), to unequivocally oppose any proposed amendments by the Government of BC to the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.
If you have not already done so, please consider signing on and joining the more than 90 First Nations and organizations that have done so to date.
Please consider adding your voice to those opposed to amendments to the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act
We are aiming to have this re-released Monday February 9th, and are hoping for as many signatories as possible to signify unity among First Nations in B.C. to preserve the Declaration Act and not amend it, as has been repeatedly proposed by B.C. and called for by some industry. Next week is a pivotal time as we anticipate BC will engage with First Nations on their discussion paper regarding the proposed amendments, and because B.C. will provide a throne speech on February 12th.
Thank you to those who signed on when we circulated this in late December. The only updates in the version below are the removal of the holiday greetings in the December version- therefore, if you already endorsed, you do not need to do so again.
If your First Nation would like to endorse the statement, please send an email to Andrea Glickman (andrea@ubcic.bc.ca), Colin Braker (cbraker@fns.bc.ca) and Maureen Buchan (maureen.buchan@bcafn.ca) by Friday February 6th at 4:30pm. If you would like a briefing note, please reach out to ask.
Thank you
B.C.’s Declaration Act Provides a Backstop of Certainty in a World of Chaos
Calls to amend the Declaration Act or appeal recent court decisions would undermine economic certainty, reconciliation, and shared prosperity in British Columbia.
At a time of global instability and uncertainty, people are understandably looking for clarity, certainty, and leadership grounded in shared values. Difficult moments can bring out the best in us—or they can provoke fear-based reactions that risk undoing hard-won progress. Recent trends in British Columbia are cause for concern.
Despite recent court decisions that reaffirm the crucial need to consult and negotiate, a negative narrative has begun to take hold. This narrative wrongly blames First Nations for uncertainty while ignoring the historical reality that British Columbia was largely settled without treaties. It replaces facts and experience with fear, and cooperation with division.
If allowed to shape public discourse or government decision-making, this narrative risks pulling our province backward—toward a time marked by blame, conflict, increased litigation, and even real threats of violence against Indigenous peoples. That is not a future any of us should accept.
Recent calls to amend the Declaration Act or appeal court rulings are rooted in this fear-based response. They suggest that the framework we have built together is the problem, when in fact it has been part of the solution. These actions would not create certainty—they would slow progress, increase litigation, and grind projects to a halt as First Nations are once again forced to defend our rights and interests through the courts.
British Columbia is facing real economic challenges, and First Nations are essential partners in addressing them. Our Nations are drivers of the provincial economy, supporting local communities and helping to close economic gaps through responsible projects and developments in our territories. These projects depend on the certainty provided by the Declaration Act, which offers a clear, principled pathway for First Nations, governments, and industry to work together—advancing reconciliation while enabling timely and sustainable development.
The Declaration Act was developed collaboratively with Indigenous peoples and passed unanimously by all parties in the Legislature, with the support of industry, business, and labour. It establishes minimum standards of survival and dignity for Indigenous peoples and has contributed to greater trust, stability, and economic certainty across the province. It is landmark legislation—and one British Columbia should be proud of.
British Columbia faces a clear choice about the path we walk together: a path of negotiation, collaboration, and shared prosperity with First Nations and all British Columbians, or a path that takes us backward to a place of uncertainty and conflict that none of us want to revisit.
The Declaration Act—and decisions like Gitxaala v. British Columbia (Chief Gold Commissioner)—are not obstacles. They are opportunities. They provide a framework to do the necessary work of reconciliation in a way that builds clarity, stability, and shared success.
We call on leaders and British Columbians alike to pause, reflect, and recognize the steady progress that has been made under the Declaration Act—and the healthier, more respectful relationships that have emerged because of it.
We call on Premier Eby to uphold the Declaration Act, resist calls to amend it or pursue appeals, and to sit down with Indigenous leadership to continue the work of building certainty, trust, and economic prosperity for everyone in British Columbia.
**This is an updated version of the joint statement released December 22nd, 2025 and will continue to be updated as signatories are added**
ʔaYaq̓it ·knuqⱡi ‘it First Nation
ʔAkisq̓nuk First Nation