(Update: May 13, 2025) Three MLAs have responded to criticism and calls for their resignation over a controversial post-election statement they made framing Indigenous sovereignty as one of the "crucial issues" that BC is facing.
The snpink’tn Indian Band Indian (Penticton Indian Band) called for Tara Armstrong, MLA for Kelowna-Lake Country-Cold Stream, Dallas Brodie of Vancouver Quilchena and Jordan Kealy of North Peace River to step down in light of the comments, which "falsely portrays Indigenous sovereignty as a threat to British Columbia’s prosperity.”
In their response, Armstrong, Kealy and Dallas said they "sounded the alarm" that Mark Carney winning the election could fuel separatist sentiments within BC.
"We also made the obvious observation that more than 200 Indigenous bands asserting sovereignty is a crucial issue facing our province today. With all due respect to the chiefs and councils of these bands, British Columbia simply cannot accommodate more than 200 sovereignties within its borders. Would you fly a plane with over 200 pilots, each with their own controls?" their response said.
"It’s no surprise that the chief and council of the Penticton Indian Band are alarmed by our repudiation of their unfounded sovereignty claims and the broader set of grievances promoted by the reconciliation industry."
The trio added that "billions of dollars" have flowed from the public to lawyers, consultants and chiefs with zero accountability and "disastrous results."
They claimed in the statement that "Indigenous lifespans have plunged by six years since 2017." Additionally, they said that "British Columbians have seen taxes increase, healthcare and other public infrastructure fail, and the cost of living soar out of reach."
The statement added that the move for Indigenous sovereignty has also deepened racial conflict, "undermining the principle of equity under the law."
Examples of which, according to the MLAs, include when Wet’suwet’en chiefs blocking an LNG pipeline and expelled workers, Haida leaders "tearing down homes of law-abiding residents," and Líl̓wat and N’Quatqua bands closing Joffre Lakes to the public.
"Canada must begin serving the interests of British Columbia—because right now, it isn’t. Part of that involves securing our land base from both internal and external threats, so we can once again utilize our abundant energy and resources for the benefit of everyone," the statement concludes.
"When British Columbia joined Canada in 1871, it saw no need to recognize Aboriginal title or sovereignty and resisted the creation of reserves for fear of excluding Indigenous people from public life. We hold a similar hope for our future—that all British Columbians will partake as equals in the province's future prosperity."
(May 11, 2025) The snpink’tn Indian Band Indian (Penticton Indian Band) is condemning a recent statement made by three local MLAs about First Nations sovereignty.
The day after the federal election, which saw Mark Carney and the Liberals win the leadership, three MLAs issued a joint statement.
Tara Armstrong, MLA for Kelowna-Lake Country-Cold Stream, Dallas Brodie of Vancouver Quilchena and Jordan Kealy of North Peace River spoke out about the election results and promised to continue their work building a “stronger and more prosperous BC.”
In addition to criticizing Carney’s “anti-energy agenda” and the effects of previous Liberal government policies on BC, the trio said that “
The statement said that “successive Liberal governments have neglected to address crucial issues impacting British Columbia,” listing “more than 200 Indigenous bands asserting sovereignty” as one of those issues.
In their response, syilx Nation Territory and the snpink’tn said that the MLAs statement "falsely portrays Indigenous sovereignty as a threat to British Columbia’s prosperity,” and that the MLAs should resign immediately.
“Indigenous sovereignty is not a threat—it is the law,” said Chief and Council of the snpink’tn Indian Band. “Assertions of Indigenous sovereignty are constitutionally protected rights and affirmed by Canadian and international law.
The first nation council added that the MLA’s statement “dangerously” groups Indigenous self-determination with unrelated political issues like uncontrolled immigration and equalization disparities, “perpetuating racist narratives and systemic discrimination against Indigenous Peoples.”
In March, a petition was launched calling for Armstrong's resignation due to her being "difficult to get a hold of" and generally being a no-show to pre-election debates. She left the BC Conservatives to join a new party alongside Brodie and Kealy following controversial remarks from Brodie about residential schools in BC.
