(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) denounces the Trump administration’s since-postponed imposition of tariffs on imports from Canada and demands that any response by the governments of British Columbia and Canada respect and uphold the inherent and constitutionally protected title and rights and jurisdictions of First Nations.
If enacted, the tariffs proposed by the Trump administration will wreak havoc on the Canadian and British Columbian economies and have the potential to cost millions of jobs. First Nations will be undeniably and disproportionately impacted by the Trump tariffs in violation of our basic human rights. Any related concessions, particularly as they relate to the imposed border that has artificially divided our Nations, retaliatory actions, or relief efforts undertaken by the governments of British Columbia and Canada in response to the tariffs must not exacerbate these impacts and must respect and uphold our title and rights.
Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, UBCIC President, stated, “We are the original people of this land, and we maintain our inherent and unceded title and rights to it and will continue to exercise our jurisdiction. First Nations must play a central role in developing and implementing any response to the specter of President Trump’s capricious, nonsensical, and childish tariffs.”
Regional Chief Terry Teegee, remarked, “President Trump’s postponed tariffs are petty and destructive but also offer opportunity. Working together, First Nations and Crown governments can navigate through this latest crisis in a way that benefits everyone, regardless of which colonial government is in power to our south in the future. Direct involvement of First Nations in the development and implementation of any related concessions or retaliatory and relief measures is vital.”
“Much of the economies of First Nations in B.C. are directly tied to resource development, a sector that will be hit hard by the Trump administration tariffs if they are enacted. Economic opportunities and other relief for First Nations must be prioritized and expedited as part of any planned response, and fully respect the inherent, constitutional, and human rights of First Nations,” stated Robert Phillips of the First Nations Summit Political Executive. He added, “First Nations leaders are also deeply concerned with President Trump’s imperialist aspirations which are unconscionable and disregard and disrespect the rights of the Indigenous peoples of those regions, including First Nations in Canada.”