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Vancouver, Coast Salish Territory - Tribal council representatives held a press conference today, April 4, 2002, to speak their opposition of the current provincial referendum process. In protest, representatives from the 16 tribal councils symbolically burned ballots.

Chief Stewart Phillip, President of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs was present and commented afterwards “Today was the first of many events where people from across the province will actively boycott the referendum. The process is a sham and only serves to vilify our efforts to reconcile our Aboriginal Title and Rights with the Province of British Columbia and the Government of Canada.”

First Nations have a constitutional relationship with both the Provincial and Federal governments. Section 35 of the Constitution of Canada guides the current relationship and has been clarified through the various court decisions. The referendum process continues the longstanding adversarial approach undertaken by both the Provincial and Federal Government of their outright refusal to recognize Aboriginal Title and Rights.

Chief Phillip concluded, “We are working with a growing coalition of political, labour, church and concerned citizens who all agree that referendum is immoral and unconscionable. We will be advocating an ‘active boycott’ and will be soon encouraging people, in the coming days, to direct their ballots to one of many collection points throughout the province.”

For more information contact Chief Stewart Phillip, President, UBCIC, cell phone: 250-490-5314.