Grand Chief Stewart Phillip endorses David Eby for premier and Emily Lowan in Saanich North

Stewart Phillip is the Grand Chief of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs, one of the oldest Indigenous political organizations in British Columbia. He has been a prominent voice on First Nations rights, land title, and treaty negotiations for decades. His late wife Joan Phillip was an NDP MLA who served in David Eby's government until her death in 2024.

Phillip issued a single statement with two separate endorsements. He endorsed David Eby as the best choice for premier across the province, based on a personal friendship of more than 20 years. He also endorsed Emily Lowan specifically in her riding of Saanich North and the Islands, saying she has earned his full respect and admiration and is part of the future. The Green Party has held that seat for the past three elections.

DRIPA stands for the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, which the BC NDP government passed in 2019. The law committed BC to align its legislation with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The Indo-Canadian Voice reports that Phillip fell out with the NDP over how the party handled the act's implementation, which is why his endorsement of Eby as premier came alongside a separate endorsement for Green leader Lowan in her local race.

In the same statement published by the Indo-Canadian Voice, Phillip described Doerkson as the leader of a 'deeply divided, dated and bitter' group of candidates who represent 'our colonial past.' He also said the Conservatives 'think First Nations people need to be conquered,' a reference to comments made by a Conservative candidate that CBC and other outlets reported separately. Phillip did not endorse Doerkson.

The Indo-Canadian Voice reported Eby's response: 'I'm deeply honoured to have the support of my friend Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, one of our strongest champions for justice.' The NDP campaign issued no further statement in the same article.

According to CBC, Lowan posted Phillip's endorsement on her social media after he issued his statement. The CBC report also quoted Phillip directly, saying he was 'totally honoured' to endorse Lowan's candidacy in Saanich North and the Islands. The Indo-Canadian Voice article, which carried the full statement, did not include a separate direct response from Lowan's campaign or from the BC Green Party. CBC reported on the local endorsement while the Voice focused on the provincial endorsement of Eby as premier.

Emily Lowan is the BC Green leader and is running in the riding of Saanich North and the Islands on Vancouver Island. As Phillip noted in his statement, the Green Party has held that seat for the past three elections. Lowan is running against candidates from other parties in that district, including the BC NDP and the Conservative Party of BC. Her candidate page, with her full riding and background details, is at /bc/provincial-2026/candidates/emily-lowan.

Each party's platform is listed on its page at /bc/provincial-2026/parties/. The BC NDP, BC Greens, and Conservative Party of BC have all published positions on First Nations relations and the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act. Voters can compare them directly on the parties pages.