Coastal First Nations Group Condemns Fulmer for Alleged Disinformation Campaign

Coastal First Nations condemn Fulmer for ‘disinformation’ about alliance

Tensions have escalated between Coastal First Nations (CFN) and B.C. Conservative leadership candidate Yuri Fulmer after the politician characterized the Indigenous alliance as “just an advocacy organization” funded by foreign interests.

Marilyn Slett, President of Coastal First Nations and Chief of the Heiltsuk Nation, strongly rejected Fulmer’s characterization, calling his recent video and social media comments “disinformation” that misrepresents the nature of the organization.

“We’re a coalition, an alliance of communities that have very ancient and old relations amongst each other, that ties us together,” Slett said. The alliance represents nine First Nations across British Columbia’s environmentally sensitive north coast region, an area that includes the Great Bear Rainforest.

At the center of the dispute is a video released by Fulmer that connects CFN to foreign influence in Canadian politics. The video juxtaposes images of Canadian flag-burning and pro-Palestinian protests with speeches by Gaagwiis Jason Alsop, the elected president of the Haida Nation and a CFN board member.

“Time and again, we keep hearing that Coastal First Nations are opposed to any pipeline and will stop any development,” Fulmer states in the video. “But here is the thing: the Coastal First Nations is just a name, like Coke or Nike.”

Fulmer further claims the organization operates under the official name “Great Bear Initiative Society” and receives millions in funding from “left-wing American and international foundations,” suggesting foreign donors influence its advocacy positions.

While CFN acknowledges it receives some foreign donations as a registered non-profit, Slett emphasized that the organization’s board—composed of elected and hereditary leaders from the nine coastal communities—maintains full decision-making authority.

“There is no funder, whether it’s government, philanthropic, or corporate, that directs our position or activity,” she told Black Press Media. “CFN takes direction only from the leadership of its member nations.”

The alliance also disputes Fulmer’s characterization of their environmental stance. CFN officials clarified that rather than opposing all development and pipelines, their advocacy specifically targets heavy oil tanker traffic in their territorial waters—an activity banned since 2019 under federal law. The issue has regained prominence recently as Alberta pushes for a new oil pipeline to B.C.’s North Coast.

Slett expressed concern that such misinformation campaigns have real-world consequences, revealing she has personally experienced online harassment through direct messages and emails. There have also been attempts to dox CFN employees.

In an interview defending his statements, Fulmer maintained that his core issue was with foreign funding of organizations engaged in political activity, which he wants banned. Ironically, Fulmer’s own investment firm—which operates nearly three dozen A&W franchises in western Canada—has previously donated to the Coastal First Nation’s Great Bear Rainforest Carbon Project.

When questioned about this apparent contradiction, Fulmer distinguished between domestic and foreign funding. “As a company, we believe in conservation,” he said. “We are a British Columbian company, not a foreign company… and we invested in a conservation project we believe in.”

The dispute highlights ongoing tensions regarding resource development in traditional Indigenous territories and raises questions about the nature of government-to-government relations with First Nations alliances. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Mark Carney and federal officials met with CFN leadership, underscoring the organization’s recognized political standing.

In a written statement, Slett called for Fulmer to apologize, warning that such rhetoric increases division between Indigenous and non-Indigenous British Columbians during an already tense political climate.

“Spreading this type of disinformation sows division between First Nations and other British Columbians and serves to further inflame existing tensions,” Slett wrote. “In a time of heightened political conflict across the continent, this is irresponsible and dangerous and could result in real harm to our communities.”