B.C. could have another Oka on its hands over the Musqueam band's claims to the University Golf Club, says a prominent native leader.
First Nations summit leader Judith Sayers said natives are growing frustrated over local opposition to the Musqueam taking over the 50-hectare icon in one of Vancouver's posh neighbourhoods.
"Here you've got a community [that has] had this issue for many, many years. You've got a proactive premier who wants to settle that. And then you've got all these people in Point Grey that don't want to do it," Sayers said yesterday. "People have got to see the reality of trying to resolve these issues before they reach the point of Caledonia or Oka."
Sayers said residents should stay out of the issue, and let the negotiators find a deal.
The Musqueam are in private talks with the province to take over the golf club, which belongs to the University of B.C.
More than 500 people, many of them Point Grey residents, have signed a local petition opposing handing over the property to the Musqueam.
Last week, Premier Gordon Campbell, the Point Grey MLA, told reporters he's been getting calls from angry constituents.
Federal Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice said he's not getting involved in the Musqueam issue.
"I understand it's an area of land that people feel strongly about, but we do have to move forward on these kinds of historical grievances," he said in Vancouver yesterday.
"And I trust that at the end of the day, it will be done in a way that everyone will be satisfied."
Prentice was in Vancouver to address business and native leaders over new ways to resolve 800 specific native land claims, almost 400 in B.C.
Prentice said he plans to spend a chunk of the summer in B.C., talking to the B.C. government and natives about how to ink more treaties.
He said he's not happy with the B.C. treaty process, which has only completed three land-claim agreements in 15 years.
"We have to see more settlements," Prentice said. "We have to see them happen more quickly."
B.C. First Nations groups are joining in a national day of protest Friday.
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Grand Chief Ed John said the protest is over unresolved land claims -- and will be peaceful.