Lək̓ʔəŋən [LEKWUNGEN] TERRITORY / VICTORIA, B.C. — The BC Green Party strongly rejects any moves to weaken the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA) through amendments. DRIPA is a historic commitment and framework to implement rights that already exist under Section 35 of the Constitution, the Douglas Treaties, and other legal protections. It does not create rights — it affirms and operationalizes them.
“The problem is not DRIPA. The problem is political cowardice,” said Emily Lowan, Leader of the BC Greens. “Premier Eby’s plan to amend DRIPA is a dangerous, slippery slope. By ceding ground to anti-Indigenous voices, he risks diluting a framework that is meant to guide the recognition and implementation of Indigenous rights and title. This needs to be resolved through negotiation, not by tinkering with legislation to appease the fear-mongering BC Conservatives. The BC Greens will not stand by while Indigenous rights are weakened for political convenience.”
“The people of British Columbia are being led astray by loud and misinformed politicians. I don’t blame them for their confusion on DRIPA — I blame the Premier for waffling,” added Lowan.
The BC Greens also condemn the Conservative Party of BC for exploiting the Cowichan Tribes decision to attack DRIPA, despite having supported DRIPA in their 2024 platform. “Bringing OneBC under their umbrella has allowed division, resentment, and hate to fester,” said Lowan. “Now the Conservatives are using fear and misinformation to call for the dismantling of a law that protects Indigenous peoples.”
DRIPA was passed with the promise that reconciliation would be embedded into how laws are developed and applied in British Columbia. That promise does not vanish when the political winds shift or implementation is difficult.
“The work of reconciliation is complex, but that is precisely why we cannot weaken the framework designed to make it real,” said Lowan. “If Premier Eby believes in DRIPA only when it is politically convenient, he is failing Indigenous nations, the rule of law, and everyone in this province who benefits from certainty and fairness.”
The BC Greens reject the narrative that DRIPA undermines democracy or legislative authority. The Act affirms the role of the legislature while committing the province to uphold internationally recognized human rights standards.
“DRIPA is a framework for partnership, not a political bargaining chip,” said Lowan. “We are committed to defending Indigenous rights and title, standing firm against an amendment process that would water down this crucial law, and working in partnership with First Nations to fully implement DRIPA.”
There is no reconciliation without resolve. The BC Greens reject the politicization and half-measures that have left DRIPA in limbo and call on the provincial government to lead with respect, cooperation, and courage.
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