Linda Innes: B.C.’s Declaration Act is good for the economy and should not be amended to negatively impact application of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
By Linda Innes
An op-ed published by the Vancouver Sun on January 28, 2026
Earlier this month, the Gitxaała Nation was proud to host Prime Minister Mark Carney in our territory in Prince Rupert for a meeting with First Nations leaders. Elected and hereditary leaders discussed a range of issues, including shared priorities in ocean conservation and major projects development, and we reminded him of our united opposition to oil tankers.
t was also a chance to showcase what First Nations bring to the table in terms of economic development, especially in the globally challenging times in which we all find ourselves.
First Nations bring governments with local knowledge, history and legitimacy. We bring management knowledge that stewards the lands and waters that in turn support thousands of jobs. We bring entrepreneurs, tradespeople, and supplier networks that keep dollars circulating in local economies.
Gitxaała has shown what this looks like in practice. We own and operate businesses throughout our territory, including the iconic waterfront Crest Hotel where we met with the prime minister. We invest in B.C.’s economy every day, and we do it in a way that reflects who we are.
We want B.C. businesses to succeed, and we want our nations to thrive on our own terms. B.C. and Canada can continue to work toward the achievement of both goals by continuing to give effect to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which sets out minimum human rights standards that colonial systems have denied our people for generations.
Right now, too many projects in B.C. rest on shaky ground.
Companies treat government permits as the whole story, and governments claim custody over our territories. Projects then collide with a simple reality: Aboriginal title and Indigenous rights exist, they are the law of the land, and they have the power to shape development.
When governments ignore this fact, they create disputes that end up in courtrooms, on job sites, and in the streets. This wastes time, energy and money — finite resources that should be spent on better things. Every delay burns money. Every injunction scares investors.
UNDRIP offers a practical fix. It pushes governments to align their laws with Indigenous rights and free, prior, and informed consent. Consent does not mean “no” forever, it means “build it right.” It means early clarity on who decides, what conditions matter, and how benefits will flow to local communities. Businesses already understand this logic. Clear rules beat unclear rules. Partners beat opponents. Predictable timelines beat surprise shutdowns.
UNDRIP is benefiting businesses in B.C. today by:
- Lowering project risks and delays.
- Improving investor confidence and clarity.
- Strengthening partnerships and innovation.
- Increasing access to a growing workforce and new markets.
- Growing the economy for all.
- Improving environmental, social, and governance outcomes.
When governments recognize jurisdiction and manage resources in partnership with Indigenous Nations, we see more joint ventures, Indigenous equity, and durable benefit agreements. We also see fewer conflicts when terms are negotiated before companies invest millions.
Legislation enacting UNDRIP has only been in existence for about five years, and yet we are already seeing positive collaboration on major projects across B.C. and Canada. Calls to repeal the Declaration Act — the legislation that gives effect to UNDRIP in B.C., which was passed unanimously by the legislature in 2019 — should be rejected for the short-sighted, fear-based reactions they are. Proposed amendments that could negatively impact the application of UNDRIP should be discarded as risky changes that could take us back to a cycle of endless lawsuits.
It would be a mistake to assume my Nation is closed to economic development. Led by our hereditary leaders who manage and protect their territory and resources according to their history, laws, practices, and inheritance, Gitxaała pursues economic opportunities across our lands and waters. But one point is non-negotiable: Development must be responsible and respect the environment, and it must align with our laws, values, and stewardship responsibilities.
Alignment of these laws and governance (inherent, hereditary, and Indian Act-elected) is at the core of our governance, creating a clear and predictable decision-making process that recognizes our hereditary leadership as true partners. This is a competitive advantage. B.C. should view DRIPA the same way — a framework for aligning laws, respecting partners, and working together.
If B.C. and Canada want to build faster and better, it starts with respecting our rights. UNDRIP won’t solve every problem we face, but it is already making a difference by changing B.C.’s default from confrontation to collaboration — a shift that honours our rights and will strengthen the economy for all British Columbians.
Linda Innes is chief councillor of the Gitxaała Nation.