Unless significant changes are made, Squamish Nation Chief Gibby Jacob said Premier Gordon Campbell's aboriginal rights recognition project might as well be trashed.
"There are too many unanswered questions at this point," Jacob said. "If they are not answered we will come out all guns blazing against it."
The project is the consultation phase of the proposed provincial Rights and Reconciliation Act, which is intended to be a sweeping bill designed to formally recognize Aboriginal rights and title without proof of claim.
That would mean the end of requiring First Nations in B.C. to prove their existence before contact with Europeans when launching land title and resource claims.
The bill would also give First Nations the right to make decisions and share in revenues that are currently accrued to the Crown from their traditional land. Effectively, it would allow First Nations to benefit from mining, forestry, fisheries and other economic development.
But Jacob said as it stands, there are too many unanswered questions and issues, such as a contentious suggestion of reconstituting the 203 native bands in B.C. into 30 indigenous governments.
"I have a lot of questions that no one seems to have the answers too. Why would you vote on huge things like reconstituted nations without the facts? It's like asking B.C. to join with Alberta," Jacob said.
Before tabling the proposed bill, the provincial government has embarked on a series of summer regional sessions with chiefs around B.C. The first session in Prince George on May 28 left Jacob concerned.
Jacob said Squamish Nation cannot support the legislative initiative in its current form for several reasons. He said revenue sharing for economic development is ill defined and the proposal to reorganize 203 bands into two dozen nations is inconsistent with history.
"If there is an über nation existing after this, it's not good," he said. "Why would we want to share something we've negotiated and protected with newcomers? Why would we have to share the benefits that should accrue directly to the Squamish Nation?"
As one of the wealthiest aboriginal bands in the province, Jacob said he is also concerned that decision-making in land and resources is not really shared. The new bill would leave the Crown with the final say.
Jacob argues that aboriginal groups are fairing better in court than in the premier's office and the proposed legislation is mostly about stability for government and industry.
"We know what works and this constitution makes no sense," Jacob said. "The provincial government is overstepping its bounds. All level of government need to be involved in this process. First Nations have right and title. You can't bicker with that and set up rules and constitutions to stop it."
The next session is planned for August and Jacob said he hopes some of the issues can be resolved or the legislation will die.
