First Nations Leadership Council

A strong unified voice for First Nations in B.C.

The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) is a political collaborative working relationship between the British Columbia Assembly of First Nations (BCAFN), the First Nations Summit (FNS), and the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs (UBCIC).

Mandated by First Nations in B.C., the FNLC engages in advocacy and develops strategies and actions to bring about significant and meaningful change for all First Nations in British Columbia.

Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs

(UBCIC)

First Nations Summit

(FNS)

B.C. Assembly of First Nations

(BCAFN)

Our Mandate

On March 17, 2005, the political executives of the B.C. Assembly of First Nations, the First Nations Summit, and the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, with the support of Nations across B.C., entered into the historic Leadership Accord, affirming mutual respect between the organizations, forming a collaborative working relationship as the First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC). The FNLC has developed through decades of collaboration, respect, and at the direction of each member organizations’ mandates through resolution.

The main purpose of the FNLC is to:

  • Address issues of common concern;
  • Develop strategies and actions to bring about significant and substantive changes to government policy that will benefit all First Nations in B.C.;
  • Create space and opportunity for First Nations to engage directly with governments on their priority issues; and
  • Engage in advocacy on behalf of First Nations to achieve these objectives.
FNLC

Signing of the Leadership Accord, March 17, 2005. Pictured left to right; Chief Robert Shintah (UBCIC), Regional Chief Shawn Atleo (BCAFN), Grand Chief Stewart Phillip (UBCIC), Chief Mike Retasket (UBCIC), Grand Chief Doug Kelly (FNS), Grand Chief Edward John (FNS), Dave Porter (FNS).

The mandate and work of the FNLC is collectively directed by First Nations through resolutions they pass at the three political organizations. The FNLC is not a Nation and does not hold Aboriginal Title, Rights or Treaty Rights.

The FNLC further acknowledges that any government-to-government relationship is between First Nations and the Crown, and that any engagement between the FNLC and the Crown does not fulfill, replace or displace the Crown’s obligations to First Nations under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UN Declaration), or section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982.

Key Milestones in FNLC’s History

2005
2007
2014
2017
2019
2025+

2005

The First Nation Leadership Council was created through a Leadership Accord on March 17, that outlined a political framework for collective work through the union of the British Columbia Assembly of First Nations (BCAFN), the First Nations Summit (FNS), and the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs (UBCIC).

2007

The FNLC was actively involved in advocacy for the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UN Declaration), which Canada later adopted in 2016.

2014

The FNLC and B.C. convened the first B.C. Cabinet & First Nations Leadership Gathering, an annual forum where First Nations leaders and the B.C. government discuss priorities, strengthen partnerships, and advance reconciliation.

2017

The Reconciliation Charter for First Nations Child and Family Well-Being in B.C. was created.

2019

The FNLC played a critical role in co-developing the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (Declaration Act), which, coupled with the Declaration Act Action Plan, aims to integrate the UN Declaration into the government of B.C. as the framework for reconciliation, as called for by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action.

2025+

Ongoing work between the FNLC, sectoral organizations and all levels of government.

Latest News

Apr 29 2025

Canadians Overwhelmingly Vote Against High-Risk Shift to Political Right: FNLC Congratulates Liberal Government

April 29, 2025   (xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) looks...
Apr 03 2025

FNLC Responds to Dallas Brodie’s False Accusation and Joins Calls for CPC to Drop Candidate Aaron Gunn for Residential School Denialism

April 3, 2025(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) is deeply...
Mar 20 2025

FNLC Calls on Canada to Prioritize Legislation to Create Legal Protections against Residential School Denialism

March 20, 2025(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) is deeply...