FORT ST. JOHN -- A new civil claim filed by council of the Blueberry River First Nation is set to challenge an agreement between the Nation and the province.

Court documents filed by council July 8TH, 2024, seek to renegotiate the terms of ‘The Gundy Plan.'

The plan enforces the BRFN's involvement in industrial development on land within and around the reserve.

In May, an agreement was reached between the province and the First Nation that would see 40 of a requested 100 per cent of land protected, with the decision facing criticism from members and council.

The court filing says that the plan is not in the best interest of the BRFN and was approved without notice or authorization of the elected chief and council.

It is calling on the province to set new disturbance caps that will limit the amount of development that can happen on the Nation's land.

In 2021, the BC Supreme Court sided with the BRFN and awarded them stewardship over traditional land.

The Blueberry River was endowed a $200 million land restoration settlement for the province’s breach of Treaty 8 rights made payable by June of 2025. An additional $87.5 million financial package over three years was also given by the province, with an opportunity for increased benefits based on PNG revenue-sharing and provincial royalty revenues.

In a June 17 email obtained by CJDC-TV, Chief Judy Desjarlais says she was opposed to any litigation against the province.

Desjarlais said -a lawsuit would be a waste of time and resources, adding that it will put the BRFN at risk of resource and investment loss by challenging the terms they fought for.

The chief said she'd rather advocate for a balanced approach so the agreement can continue to be implemented.