A growing group of First Nations leaders across British Columbia is calling on the provincial government to uphold the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, saying proposed amendments would create more uncertainty and legal conflict.
More than 80 First Nations and Indigenous organizations have signed a joint statement urging Premier David Eby to maintain the Act as it was co-developed with First Nations and unanimously passed by the legislature in 2019.
The statement cautions against calls to amend the legislation or appeal recent court rulings. Leaders say such moves would undermine reconciliation, increase litigation, and slow economic development by forcing First Nations to once again defend their rights in court.
The leaders argue the Declaration Act has helped establish clearer processes for consultation and negotiation, contributing to more stable relationships between First Nations, government, and industry. They say this certainty is especially important during a time of global economic instability.
Signatories include Nations and organizations from across the province, including Northern B.C., where First Nations play a central role in resource development, infrastructure, and local economies.
The joint statement also responds to what leaders describe as harmful public narratives that wrongly blame First Nations for project delays, while ignoring the province’s history of unresolved land and title issues.
The statement is hosted online and continues to be updated as more Nations add their names.
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