B.C. NDP MLA Joan Phillip dead at 74

Joan Phillip, the NDP MLA for Vancouver-Strathcona and wife of Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, has died.

The UBCIC released a statement saying Phillip, also known as Amshen, died peacefully Friday afternoon.

Phillip was surrounded by her family at the time, according to the statement.

"Joan passed away peacefully this afternoon, surrounded by the love of her life," the UBCIC said.

"In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the B.C. Cancer Society."

British Columbia lost a powerful and respected leader when Joan Amshen Phillip died earlier today. Our caucus and staff are grieving alongside her family and so many others who knew and loved her. <a href="https://t.co/WH6KGWvZjz">pic.twitter.com/WH6KGWvZjz</a>

B.C. Premier David Eby said the NDP caucus and staff are grieving alongside Phillip’s family.

"British Columbia lost a powerful and respected leader when Joan Amshen Phillip died earlier today," said Eby in a written statement.

Earlier this year, Eby said that Phillip was "very ill" and that her colleagues were all praying for her.

He called Phillip a "hugely respected member of many communities" and a "loved and valued" colleague of those in the legislature from across party lines.

Phillip, an Indigenous leader, was credited by Eby as one of the reasons why the NDP halted its plans to suspend sections of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, or DRIPA.