Joan Phillip

Early Life and Activist Foundations

Joan Phillip was born Joan Carter on June 12, 1952, and was raised in North Vancouver and Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. She was the daughter of Tsleil-Waututh elder Bob George and the granddaughter of the renowned actor, writer, and chief Dan George. Phillip was a twin, born alongside her sister Joyce, and among her siblings was the celebrated author Lee Maracle. Her early life in these communities deeply informed her lifelong commitment to social justice and Indigenous advocacy. From the age of sixteen, she was involved in political activism, becoming a core member of the Native Alliance for Red Power, an Indigenous militant organization established in the 1960s.

Her activism extended internationally, as she allied herself with global movements including the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Black Panthers. In 1975, she led an 18-member delegation of Western Canadian Indigenous representatives, known as the Native Peoples Friendship Delegation, to the People's Republic of China. Phillip's environmental activism was extensive and persistent, focusing on opposing major industrial projects across British Columbia. She worked to stop the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, the proposed Ajax mine near Kamloops, the Site C dam, and the salmon farm industry, establishing herself as a formidable defender of the land and water.

Her activism was often direct and involved personal risk. In solidarity with the Oka Crisis in 1990, she and her husband Stewart organized a rail blockade at Seton Portage, which led to their arrest by the RCMP. The couple protested together consistently since the 1970s, becoming closely associated figures in activist circles. Phillip complemented her on-the-ground work with formal education, studying Indigenous peoples' resource management at the University of Saskatchewan and through the National Aboriginal Land Managers Association. This blend of practical experience and academic understanding equipped her for her later professional and political roles.

Career Before Provincial Politics

Prior to her election, Joan Phillip built a substantial career dedicated to community service and First Nations governance. Her professional roles were deeply rooted in the communities she called home. She worked as a youth counsellor at the Outreach Alternate School through Britannia Secondary School in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. Phillip also served as the program director at the Aboriginal Friendship Centre, which was then known as the Vancouver Indian Centre, and participated in the native police liaison committee in Vancouver. Her work extended to the First United Church's outreach alternative school, further demonstrating her commitment to education and support for vulnerable populations.

For two decades, Phillip held the significant position of lands manager for the Penticton Indian Band, retiring from that role in September 2019. In this capacity, she was responsible for the stewardship and management of the Band's territorial lands, a role that directly applied her academic training in resource management. Her service to the Penticton Indian Band also included being elected as a member of the Band Council. This extensive background in First Nations administration and community development provided a strong foundation for her subsequent political career, grounding her policy perspectives in direct, hands-on experience.

Federal Political Campaigns

Joan Phillip's entry into electoral politics began at the federal level, where she ran as a New Democratic Party candidate in two consecutive elections. A longtime supporter of the NDP since approximately 1972, she had previously run for the party once provincially and once federally before her 2019 campaign. She was acclaimed as the NDP nominee for the riding of Central Okanagan, Similkameen, Nicola on May 4, 2019. In the October 2019 federal election, she faced incumbent Conservative MP Dan Albas, ultimately placing third in the traditionally conservative-leaning riding.

Undeterred, Phillip ran again in the same riding during the 2021 federal election for a rematch against Albas. While she did not win, her campaign improved the NDP's standing, moving the party into second place in the riding. Phillip herself conceded that her campaign was a long shot given the riding's political leanings. These federal campaigns, though unsuccessful, honed her political skills and raised her profile, setting the stage for her eventual move to provincial politics. Climate organization 350.org Canada had dubbed her one of seven candidates to watch during these federal runs, highlighting her environmental advocacy.

Provincial Political Career and By-election Victory

Following her federal campaigns, Joan Phillip was selected as the BC NDP candidate for the provincial riding of Vancouver-Mount Pleasant in a 2023 by-election. The seat was vacated by the resignation of former cabinet minister Melanie Mark, the first First Nations woman to serve in the legislature. Despite her recent work with the Penticton Indian Band, Phillip emphasized her deep, ancestral connections to Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, including previous employment, personal experiences, and family relations in the riding. She faced four other candidates in the June 24, 2023 by-election: Jackie Lee of BC United, Wendy Hayko of the BC Greens, Karin Litzcke of the BC Conservatives, and Kimball Cariou of the BC Communist Party. Phillip won the by-election decisively with 68 percent of the vote, becoming the MLA for Vancouver-Mount Pleasant.

Her victory was celebrated by the First Nations Leadership Council, a council composed of representatives from the BC Assembly of First Nations, First Nations Summit, and Union of BC Indian Chiefs. Upon her victory, she became the second ever First Nations woman to serve in British Columbia's Legislative Assembly, after her predecessor Melanie Mark. In response to Mark's comments about a toxic culture contributing to her resignation, Phillip asserted she would choose to give any MLAs who were rude to her a good whack with her SIA stick, a stick from a Saskatoon berry tree. She was sworn into the legislature in July 2023 and later successfully defended her seat in the 2024 general election, where the riding was renamed Vancouver-Strathcona.

• June 24, 2023: Wins Vancouver-Mount Pleasant by-election with 68% of the vote.
• July 2023: Sworn in as MLA, becoming the second First Nations woman in the BC legislature.
• October 2024: Re-elected in the newly named Vancouver-Strathcona riding in the provincial general election.
• November 2024: Appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Community Development and Non-Profits.
• December 2025: Takes a leave of absence from the legislature due to illness.
• August 28, 2026: Dies in office at the age of 74.

Political Positions and Impact

As an MLA, Joan Phillip was a consistent advocate for progressive policies centred on housing, healthcare, and Indigenous rights. She was a supporter of Premier David Eby's proposed rental protection fund, which aimed to provide non-profit housing providers with greater ability to purchase rental buildings slated for redevelopment. Drawing from profound personal tragedy, she was a vocal proponent of access to safe drug supply and easy-to-access support services. Her stepson, Kenny Phillip, died of a carfentanil overdose in 2018, leaving behind six children, an experience that deeply informed her advocacy on the overdose crisis. She also supported the federal NDP's proposal for a universal pharmacare program.

Her commitment to Indigenous rights was tested in 2026 when the Eby government, holding a one-seat majority, proposed a confidence vote on suspending sections of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act. Phillip told Premier Eby she could not bring herself to vote for the suspension, a stance that was credited as a key reason the government ultimately backed down from the plan. This act of principle, standing against her own party's leadership, demonstrated her dedication to her convictions and was widely praised by Indigenous leaders and political observers across party lines. Robert Phillips of the First Nations Summit noted that while others fell into party line, Phillip was the first that stood up on that hill alone.

Personal Life and Family

Joan Phillip was married to Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, the long-serving President of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs, until her death. Both had been previously married and had children from those relationships. Together, they had five surviving children, fifteen grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. Phillip raised three of her children in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, maintaining a deep connection to the community. The couple owned an apartment in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside along with a home in Penticton, reflecting their ties to both urban and interior communities.

Stewart Phillip first encountered Joan after reading her sister Lee Maracle's book Bobbi Lee: Indian Rebel, which featured her headshot. They later met while both were members of the board of the Vancouver Indian Centre Society. Their relationship endured strains due to Stewart's struggles with alcoholism, though Phillip stated in May 2023 that she had been clean and sober for 34 years. Their partnership was both personal and political, with the two frequently appearing together at events and protests, united in their advocacy for Indigenous rights and environmental protection.

Illness, Death, and Legacy

In December 2025, the BC NDP caucus announced that Joan Phillip had been diagnosed with an illness requiring treatment and was taking a leave of absence from her duties as an MLA. By April 2026, Premier David Eby described her as very ill and wished her a quick recovery. Phillip died peacefully, surrounded by her family including her husband Stewart, on August 28, 2026, at the age of 74. While the specific illness was not publicly disclosed, the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs requested donations be directed to the BC Cancer Society in her memory. Her funeral was held on September 2, 2026, at the Outma Sqilx'w Cultural School in Penticton.

Tributes poured in from across the political spectrum and from Indigenous leaders nationwide. Premier Eby called her an epic fighter who dedicated her life to making the world a better and fairer place. Federal NDP Leader Avi Lewis stated she spent a lifetime at the front of the fight for justice. Leaders from the BC Green Party and BC Conservative Party also expressed deep respect for her dedication and principles. Judith Sayers, president of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, said her impact was nationwide and that she always pursued the best possible solutions for First Nations. Phillip is remembered as a matriarch, a warrior, and a champion whose legacy of fierce advocacy for justice, human rights, and the environment continues to inspire.

Electoral History

Joan Phillip contested elections at both the federal and provincial levels, demonstrating a commitment to public service across different political arenas. Her electoral journey began with two federal campaigns in a challenging Conservative stronghold before finding success in a provincial urban riding. The table below summarizes her candidacies and results. Her 2023 by-election victory was a landmark, securing her place as the second First Nations woman in the BC legislature. She successfully defended her seat in the 2024 general election, where the riding was renamed Vancouver-Strathcona. Phillip also made a notable political endorsement in 2026, supporting Alberta MP Heather McPherson in the federal New Democratic Party leadership election.

Her electoral career, though cut short by her death in 2026, was marked by significant firsts and a powerful connection to her constituents. She ran twice for the federal New Democratic Party in Central Okanagan, Similkameen, Nicola in 2019 and 2021, moving the party into second place in 2021. Her provincial victories in the 2023 Vancouver-Mount Pleasant by-election and the 2024 Vancouver-Strathcona general election affirmed her strong support in Vancouver's urban core. She won the 2023 by-election with 68 percent of the vote.

Questions about Joan Phillip

What was Joan Phillip's Indigenous name?

Joan Phillip's Indigenous name was Amshen. She was widely known and honoured by this name within First Nations communities and in many public tributes following her death. The name Amshen reflected her deep cultural roots and identity as a Tsleil-Waututh woman, granddaughter of Chief Dan George. She carried this name throughout her life of activism and political service.

How did Joan Phillip die?

Joan Phillip died on August 28, 2026, at the age of 74. She passed away peacefully surrounded by her family after a battle with an illness. While the specific illness was not publicly disclosed, her family and the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs requested that donations in her memory be made to the BC Cancer Society. She had been on a leave of absence from the legislature since December 2025 due to her health.

Why was Joan Phillip significant in BC political history?

Joan Phillip was historically significant as only the second First Nations woman ever elected to serve in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. She followed her predecessor, Melanie Mark, in breaking this barrier. Her election in the 2023 Vancouver-Mount Pleasant by-election was a milestone for representation. Furthermore, her principled stance on Indigenous rights, particularly her opposition to suspending the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act in 2026, cemented her legacy as a fearless advocate.

What were some of Joan Phillip's key activist causes?

Joan Phillip was a lifelong activist for Indigenous rights, environmental protection, and social justice. Her key causes included opposing the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, the Ajax mine, the Site C dam, and the salmon farm industry. She was a member of the Native Alliance for Red Power in her youth and participated in acts of civil disobedience, including a rail blockade during the Oka Crisis. She also advocated for safe drug supply and housing justice, informed by her personal and professional experiences in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.

Who was Joan Phillip married to?

Joan Phillip was married to Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, the President of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs. They were a formidable partnership in activism and public life for decades. Both had children from previous relationships, and together they had five surviving children, fifteen grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. Stewart Phillip was frequently described as the love of her life, and they were side by side in advocacy work until her death.

What was Joan Phillip's role in the BC government?

Joan Phillip served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. She was first elected as the MLA for Vancouver-Mount Pleasant in a June 2023 by-election following the resignation of Melanie Mark. After the 2024 general election, she represented the renamed riding of Vancouver-Strathcona. In November 2024, she was appointed as the Parliamentary Secretary for Community Development and Non-Profits. Her role involved supporting government initiatives related to non-profit organizations and community development. She held this position until her death in August 2026.

Sources and further reading

• Joan Phillip (Wikipedia)
• BCAFN Mourns the Loss of First Nations Leader and MLA ... (bcafn.ca)
• Tributes for First Nations leader, B.C. MLA Joan Phillip (aptnnews.ca)
• B.C. NDP MLA Joan Phillip dead at 74 (cbc.ca)

Checked by the Nosy Mag desk. Last updated 2026-10-21.