UBCIC Calls for Principled Reform of the B.C. Treaty Commission Process

Press Release

May 29, 2026

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/ Vancouver, B.C. – May 29, 2026) Yesterday, Bill 20, the K’ómoks Treaty Act, passed third reading and progressed through Committee despite sustained opposition and unresolved concerns raised by neighbouring and affected First Nations regarding territorial overlap, failure to obtain consent, and impacts on inherent and constitutionally protected title and rights, and jurisdiction. The Legislature and provincial government ignored dispute resolution processes proposed by neighbouring and affected First Nations based on Indigenous law, and are plowing ahead with the ratification process on the last day of the spring session.

Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, UBCIC President, stated “Bill 20 advances an agreement, developed under the B.C. Treaty Commission (BCTC) process, which has an 80% overlap with neighbouring and affected First Nations and is going to result in awarding land rights without evidence and without consent. This would not be possible in the court or any other negotiation process. The provincial and federal governments cannot claim to uphold reconciliation and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UN Declaration) while simultaneously forcing legislation forward over the objections of neighbouring and affected First Nations with unresolved title and rights concerns.”

UBCIC reiterates that reconciliation cannot be built on the extinguishment, diminishment, or unilateral reallocation of the title and rights of certain First Nations for the benefit of another. Any treaty or agreement process that advances without the consent and participation of all neighbouring and affected First Nations risks deepening conflict and undermining the credibility of both that process and the provincial government’s commitments and obligations under the UN Declaration and Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.

Chief Councillor Linda Innes, UBCIC Vice-President stated “First Nations have broad and longstanding concerns regarding the structure and operation of the BCTC process itself. Increasingly, First Nations across what is now known as British Columbia (B.C.) have raised concerns that the BCTC process lacks adequate mechanisms to address boundary resolution, secure the consent of neighbouring and affected First Nations, or ensure equitable and transparent outcomes grounded in Indigenous law, history, and governance. Critically, BCTC Chief Commissioner George Abbott recently acknowledged the need for improvements and said, ‘We want to look at process improvement and not have these kinds of disputes when the bill is before legislature or parliament.’”

“At the end of the day, all First Nations need to be able to exercise their self-determination over their territories. The BCTC process was not designed by all First Nations in B.C. and, in order to move forward together in a good way, we need to collectively work to update all negotiations processes in a principled manner that address boundary resolution from the beginning. Hopefully this will also expedite negotiations processes so that they no longer take 30 years, and do not continue to pit First Nations against each other,” concluded Chief Marilyn Slett, UBCIC Secretary-Treasurer.

UBCIC notes that similar concerns have also been raised in relation to Bill 21, the Kitselas Treaty Act, where neighbouring and affected First Nations also called on the Province to pause advancement of the legislation until outstanding issues can be meaningfully addressed. Although the Province advanced Bill 20, Bill 21 appears to be dying on the order paper.

UBCIC stands in solidarity with First Nations calling for processes that are fair, transparent, consent-based, and grounded in the full recognition of inherent and constitutionally protected title and rights, and jurisdiction. The provincial government must immediately engage in meaningful discussions regarding reform of the BCTC process to ensure that no First Nation’s rights are advanced at the expense of another’s.

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Media inquiries:

Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, President, 250-490-5314
Chief Councillor Linda Innes, Vice-President, 778-884-5663
Chief Marilyn Slett, Secretary-Treasurer, 250-957-7721

UBCIC is an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.

For more information, please visit www.ubcic.bc.ca

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