Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs facts for kids

The Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) is a political group for First Nations people. It was started in 1969. This happened because of a plan called the White Paper. This plan would have changed how the Canadian government worked with Indigenous peoples. Many Indigenous leaders did not agree with it.

Before UBCIC, different First Nations groups in British Columbia tried to unite. But it was hard because of differences between groups from the coast and the interior. Finally, in November 1969, 175 chiefs met in Kamloops. They all agreed to create the UBCIC. In 1971, UBCIC officially became an organization with its own rules.

Who Leads the UBCIC?

The UBCIC is run by an Executive Committee and a Chiefs' Council. This council includes chiefs from all the member Indigenous communities. The first three leaders were Victor Adolf, Heber Maitland, and Philip Paul.

Presidents of UBCIC

• George Manuel (1979–1981)
• Robert (Bob) Manuel (1981–1983)
• Grand Chief Saul Terry (1983–1998)
• Grand Chief Stewart Phillip (1998–Present)

Vice Presidents of UBCIC

• Chief Robert Chamberlin, OWADI (2009–Present)

Secretary Treasurers of UBCIC

• Kukpi7 Judy Wilson (Present)

Why Was UBCIC Formed?

In 1969, the Canadian Prime Minister, Pierre Trudeau, and the Minister of Indian Affairs, Jean Chrétien, released a plan. It was called the "Statement of the Government of Canada on Indian policy," but everyone called it the White Paper. This plan wanted to get rid of the Indian Act. It also aimed to end the special relationship between Indigenous Peoples and the Canadian Government.

Many Indigenous groups across Canada were upset by this plan. They felt the government did not listen to their ideas. In British Columbia, new Indigenous leaders started to organize. Leaders like Rose Charlie, Philip Paul, and Don Moses invited First Nations from all over the province. They held a meeting in Kamloops to talk about the White Paper. They also discussed the important topic of Aboriginal title and rights.

The meeting was a big success! Over 140 First Nations groups were there. This meeting led to the creation of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs. This new organization was created to work on solving land claims issues.

UBCIC's Library and Archives

The UBCIC has a special library and archives. It focuses on research about land rights in British Columbia. This resource is mainly for First Nations people doing research for their communities. Other researchers can also use it if they follow UBCIC's rules for ethical research. The library uses a special system to organize its books. It's called the Brian Deer classification system. This system helps organize information in a way that makes more sense for Indigenous ways of thinking.