February 18, 2026

The FNLC is sharing this statement from West Coast Environmental Law, and calling on all faith, labour, environmental, legal, academic, artistic and other community leaders to add their voice in urging the Premier and all British Columbians to rise above anti-Indigenous and fear-based rhetoric and stand together for human rights and reconciliation.

Amending signature human rights law would set reconciliation back decades say faith, labour, environmental, legal, academic, artistic and other community leaders

xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) & səl̓ilwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Territories / VANCOUVER, BC

Diverse civil society leaders are calling on Premier David Eby to hit the brakes on planned legislative amendments to BC’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (Declaration Act) and Interpretation Act. The 80+ faith, labour, environmental, legal, academic, artistic and other community leaders issued a joint statement today urging the Premier and all British Columbians to rise above anti-Indigenous and fear-based rhetoric to stand together for human rights and reconciliation.

Amending the Declaration Act or the Interpretation Act is out of step with constituencies who expect the government to follow through on its promises and commitments and “would set back our collective reconciliation efforts by decades,” the joint statement warns.

The Premier quickly vowed to amend the law following a December 2025 BC Court of Appeal decision which ruled that commitments made in the Declaration Act are enforceable in court. The stated intention of proposed amendments is to deny First Nations’ access to the courts to uphold Indigenous human rights.