In February 2026, the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs elected Chief Councillor Linda Innes, Gitxaala Nation, as Vice-President through acclamation, becoming the first female Vice-President of UBCIC since the Chiefs created the organisation in 1969.
Chief Councillor Innes joins UBCIC Secretary-Treasurer Chief Marilyn Slett and UBCIC President Grand Chief Stewart Phillip on the first majority-female UBCIC Executive. On Sunday - International Women's Day - UBCIC invited elected officials and the public to join the organisation in celebrating the accomplishments of First Nations women, and calling for action to address gender inequity and violence that continue to target women.
Chief Councillor Innes said she was "immensely honoured" to be the first female UBCIC Vice-President.
"UBCIC has been organised by women from the beginning, with the Indian Homemakers Association of BC opposing Canada's assimilationist White Paper in 1969 and President Dr Rose Charlie working to bring chiefs together in BC for strategising, at what would become the first meeting of the UBCIC, in Tkʼemlúps te Secwépemc territory," she said.
"Women are at the front lines of our land defence and in the background working to advance our priorities across all areas.
"UBCIC is well known for our title and rights work and our unwavering advocacy for First Nations women, including addressing the disproportionate and devastating impacts of gender-based violence, exacerbated by the intersecting impacts of colonialism."
Chief Councillor Innes said the Union has "much work ahead of us, and I am truly looking forward to it."
Chief Slett, UBCIC Secretary-Treasurer, said she was pleased to welcome Chief Councillor Innes to the UBCIC Executive and looks forward to "working together to uphold and advance the rights of First Nations women".
"I am grateful to have had the immense privilege of working alongside exceptional women leaders and advocates, among them members of the Indian Act Sex Discrimination Working Group," Chief Slett said.
"Alongside these incredible legal experts, human rights advocates and First Nations titleholders, we have successfully brought international attention to Canada's continued sex and race-based discrimination against First Nations women under the Indian Act.
"First Nations women are at the forefront of protecting our children and grandchildren, upholding our laws, and disrupting Canada's ongoing forced assimilation."
Katisha Paul, UBCIC Women's Representative, said: "On International Women's Day, I hold up my hands to the powerful First Nations women who have fought for our rights and our very existence, and to the First Nations women I have the privilege of standing next to, with a special acknowledgement to Chief Councillor Linda Innes as the first female Vice-President of UBCIC."
"Sadly, we are in the middle of an absolute crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, Two-Spirit, Transgender, and Gender-Diverse+ peoples," Ms Paul said.
"Families and survivors, and Indigenous women leaders are driving these efforts, and we need government and the public to implement the 231 Calls for Justice that came out of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
"UBCIC remains concerned with the lack of prioritization across governments and within recent budgets, and with the slow implementation of the Calls for Justice. I am grateful to be part of an organization led by First Nations women, and I know we have a lot of work to do."
Union president Grand Chief Stewart Phillip said he was "so proud to stand beside First Nations women leaders who are unwavering in their pursuit of justice, equity and rights recognition".
"UBCIC originated thanks to the efforts of the Indian Homemakers Association and the First Nations women across the province who were ardent advocates in a heavily male-dominated political sphere. In my 27 years as President of UBCIC, this is the first time that there are more women around the table than men - it fills me with hope for the future of the organisation and our people," he said.
