Joan Phillip, NDP MLA and Indigenous rights advocate, dies at 74
Vancouver-Strathcona legislator who fought to protect the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act has passed away peacefully, surrounded by family.
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Joan Phillip, the NDP MLA for Vancouver-Strathcona and a prominent Indigenous rights advocate, died August 29 at age 74, the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs confirmed.
Phillip died peacefully, surrounded by her husband Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, their children, grandchildren and family. The union's statement described her as a "fearless warrior and inspirational leader."
Phillip was best known for her public opposition to the suspension of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, forcing Premier David Eby to back off his plan in early April. She had been in and out of hospital since spring, battling an undisclosed illness. In December, the NDP said she was taking time off due to health problems. On April 23, Eby asked people to send prayers her way, noting she was very ill but had voted from her hospital bed on legislative business the day before.
Before her election, Phillip worked as lands manager for the Penticton Indian Band and as a program director at the Aboriginal Friendship Centre in Vancouver. She was a member of the Penticton Indian Band, part of the Syilx Okanagan Nation.
Phillip was acclaimed by the NDP to run in Vancouver-Mount Pleasant in 2023 after Melanie Mark's resignation, winning a byelection on June 24, 2023, with just under 68 per cent of the vote. She was re-elected in the 2024 general election.
Eby said in a statement Friday that "Joan was an epic fighter who dedicated her life to making the world a better and fairer place. We'll miss her so much."
The family has asked for privacy and requested donations to the B.C. Cancer Society in lieu of flowers.
The facts
Who was Joan Phillip?
Joan Phillip was the NDP MLA for Vancouver-Strathcona and a prominent Indigenous rights advocate who died on August 29, 2026, at age 74.
What was Joan Phillip known for politically?
Phillip was best known for her public opposition to Premier David Eby's plan to suspend the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act in early April, which forced Eby to back off the suspension.
When did Joan Phillip win her seat?
Joan Phillip won a byelection on June 24, 2023, in Vancouver-Mount Pleasant with just under 68 per cent of the vote, and was re-elected in the 2024 general election.
What Indigenous nation was Joan Phillip a member of?
Joan Phillip was a member of the Penticton Indian Band, part of the Syilx Okanagan Nation.
