Activism
In 2002, Phillip drew media attention when he successfully forced a film project about the Aboriginal legend of the Ogopogo to be renamed Mee-Shee: The Water Giant. He did so by claiming, "It's an international concern among indigenous people about the exploitation of spiritual entities... for commercial purposes."
On November 26, 2014, Phillip told delegates at the British Columbia Federation of Labour convention that he would get arrested as a matter of principle to protest Kinder Morgan’s plans to expand the Trans Mountain pipeline. The following day, Phillip joined protesters at a Kinder Morgan borehole site on Burnaby Mountain. "We are making a very clear public statement that we do not support the Harper and Clark governments when it comes to resources," he said before his arrest. He has been arrested four other times while fighting for Indigenous rights.
In 2026, Phillip endorsed Heather McPherson in that year's federal NDP leadership race.
In 2026, Phillip endorsed David Eby for premier and Emily Lowan in her riding during the 2026 British Columbia general election.
In an interview with Global News following the 2026 British Columbia general election, which saw a Conservative majority, Phillip described any attempt at repealing DRIPA by the government-elect as, "a declaration of war."
