Stewart Phillip

Stewart Phillip is a Okanagan Aboriginal leader who has served as President of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs. Being a chief of the Penticton in British Columbia, he has advocated for Aboriginal rights for the First Nations in that province and particularly in the Okanagan region. [Government of British Columbia, " [http://www.gov.bc.ca/arr/newrelationship/new_relationship_trust_faq.html The New Relationship with Aboriginal People] ," URL accessed 11 January 2007.]

In 2002, Phillip drew media attention when he successfully forced a film project about the Aboriginal legend of the Ogopogo to be renamed "". He did this by claiming that "It's an international concern among indigenous people about the exploitation of spiritual entities... for commercial purposes." [Joseph Brean, "Natives in two nations spear the elusive Ogopogo: Moviemakers give in to demands," "National Post", Don Mills, Ontario, March 8, 2002, p. A.1.FRO.]

The Fraser Institute has criticized Phillip, calling him a "well-known militant." In 2005, Phillip cooperated on a British Columbia budget that included more money for Aboriginals. [Dr. Michael Walker, " [http://www.fraserinstitute.ca/shared/readmore1.asp?sNav=ed&id=377 A Generation Abandoned: B.C. Native Leaders’ Latest $100 million is Meaningless Unless it’s Spent on their Children’s Education] ," The Fraser Institute, 23 September 2005, URL accessed 11 January 2007.]

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