Joan Phillip, the NDP MLA representing Vancouver-Strathcona and spouse of UBCIC Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, has passed away.
The Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs confirmed in a statement that Phillip, affectionately known as Amshen, died peacefully on Friday afternoon, surrounded by her loved ones.
She was 74 years old. While the specific cause of her death was not disclosed, the UBCIC encouraged donations to the B.C. Cancer Society instead of sending floral tributes.
“Today, British Columbia has lost a significant and esteemed leader with the passing of Joan Amshen Phillip,” stated B.C. Premier David Eby in a written announcement.
Eby expressed that the NDP caucus and staff are mourning alongside Phillip’s family.
B.C. Premier David Eby is pictured campaigning for Phillip prior to her byelection victory in June 2023, describing her as a dedicated fighter who committed her life to improving the world. (Ben Nelms/CBC)
Earlier this year, Eby mentioned that Phillip was “very ill” and that her colleagues were all holding her in their thoughts and prayers.
He referred to Phillip as a “highly respected member of numerous communities” and a “cherished and esteemed” colleague among those in the legislature, regardless of party affiliation.
Joan Phillip, on the right, rests her head on her husband, Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, while they listen to speeches preceding the annual Women’s Memorial March in Vancouver on February 14, 2025. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press)
Phillip, an Indigenous leader, was recognized by Eby as a pivotal figure in the NDP’s decision to cease its plans to suspend sections of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA).
She was first elected in Vancouver during a byelection in 2023 and secured her position again in B.C.’s general election the following year.
‘Her influence was nationwide’
Judith Sayers, president of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, noted that Phillip’s readiness to vote against the B.C. NDP caucus regarding the repeal of DRIPA demonstrated her strong principles.
“Her influence extended across the nation,” Sayers remarked. “She consistently pursued the best outcomes for First Nations and Indigenous peoples throughout the country.”
Joan Phillip, on the left, is seen with her husband Stewart, on the right, cheering for Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg during a student-led climate change rally in Vancouver on October 25, 2019. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press)
Sayers mentioned that she had known Phillip for approximately 40 years.
In her roles as a member of the Penticton Indian Band council and as an MLA, Sayers attested to Phillip’s heartfelt commitment to her work.
Sayers also recalled Phillip as a devoted and proud mother who aimed to educate her children about their culture and language.
“She dedicated her life to advocating for justice,” stated federal NDP Leader Avi Lewis. “It is now our responsibility to uphold her remarkable legacy.”
Numerous tributes have flooded social media platforms, celebrating Phillip’s contributions as a politician, advocate, and compassionate individual.
Melanie Mark, former MLA for Vancouver-Mount Pleasant, stated that Phillip cherished her interactions with the people she represented while serving in the legislature.
Mark highlighted that Phillip brought her background as an urban Indigenous woman to the legislature, emphasizing her advocacy against the crisis of murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls in B.C.
“I wish to honor her legacy for continuing the fight, for being a voice for change, and for bringing that perspective into the legislature,” Mark remarked.
A remarkable history
Phillip was the granddaughter of Chief Dan George, a Tsleil-Waututh actor, poet, and public speaker.
As an MLA, she took on the role of parliamentary secretary for community development and non-profits.
NDP MLA Lana Popham, on the right, Eby, on the left, and Phillip, second from the right, are shown presenting Brian DeBeck with a Medal of Good Citizenship in January 2024. (Nav Rahi/CBC)
Before entering politics, Phillip served as a youth counselor at Britannia Secondary School and worked as the education and program director at the Aboriginal Friendship Centre.
Robert Phillips, a political executive with the First Nations Summit, remarked that Phillip’s contributions to communities transcended her political career.
“She was dedicated to working within the community to uplift it,” Phillips clarified.
He noted that while “everyone fell in line” regarding the NDP stance on a DRIPA repeal, Phillip “was the first to stand alone on that hill” and voted against it.
“She was a champion, she was an advocate,” he stated.
Phillip held the positions of councillor and lands manager for the Penticton Indian Band, of which she was a member.
Before her tenure in provincial politics, she ran for the NDP federally in 2019 and 2021 but did not secure a seat.
She is survived by five children, 15 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren, as indicated by her legislature profile and the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs.