Trust of First Nations ‘fragile’ as B.C. government considers changes to UN law
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Article contentVICTORIA — The chief of a First Nation in the Great Bear Rainforest says B.C.
Premier David Eby risks losing the trust of Indigenous people and could fuel racism if he changes the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.Sign In or Create an AccountEmail AddressContinueor View more offersArticle contentEby has said amendments may be necessary after a B.C. Appeal Court approved a challenge by a First Nation against B.C.’s mining tenure system that gives effect to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.Article contentWe apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Article contentChris McKnight, the chief councillor of the Kitasoo Xai’xais Nation, sent an open letter to Eby saying the declaration act is a proud symbol of reconciliation for his government and a beacon that says the status quo needs to change.Article contentArticle contentMcKnight says changing the act could set off racist narratives about Indigenous Peoples and deflect responsibility from those who “failed to understand and properly prepare for the law as enacted.”Article contentTop StoriesGet the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.There was an error, please provide a valid email address.Sign UpBy signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.Thanks for signing up!A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Top Stories will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againInterested in more newsletters? Browse here.Article contentHe says going to the courts is a last resort for First Nations and the Appeal Court’s decision would not create more litigation.Article contentMcKnight says Eby’s recent comments make them wonder if he truly believes they are in this together.Article content“Your statements seem to answer that the NDP government wants to make the rules, but not abide by them when they are broken,” the letter says.Article contentThis report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 19, 2025.Article contentTrending Opinion: The no-more-pipelines MOU FP Comment Tax Court overturns CRA decision to deny bitcoin loss writeoff Taxes Posthaste: 2026 might prove perilous for Canadians who piled into variable mortgages this year, Desjardins warns News When sinking property values raise red flags for borrowers Mortgages Philip Cross: The sad story of Justin Trudeau’s 'youthful idiots' FP Comment Share this article in your social networkCommentsYou must be logged in to join the discussion or read more comments.Create an AccountSign in Join the Conversation Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information. Opinion: The no-more-pipelines MOU FP Comment Tax Court overturns CRA decision to deny bitcoin loss writeoff Taxes Posthaste: 2026 might prove perilous for Canadians who piled into variable mortgages this year, Desjardins warns News When sinking property values raise red flags for borrowers Mortgages Philip Cross: The sad story of Justin Trudeau’s 'youthful idiots' FP Comment