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“Unfortunately, the process for developing this legislation did not meet the federal government’s duty to consult and accommodate and on that point alone is subject to challenge in the courts if the government tries to impose it on us,” said Bellegarde, elected national chief in December. “We had no input at all.”

While calling for the entire bill to be scrapped, the AFN, like many other critics, is primarily concerned about two contentious provisions.

One is a clause outlawing all but “lawful” forms of protest and dissent that “undermines the sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of Canada and or the lives or the security of the people of Canada.”

The AFN and others fear that will lead to native and other protesters being labelled national security threats when they stage peaceful demonstrations over aboriginal and treaty rights, development of native lands and other environmental concerns.

Bellegarde said the bill sets up the potential for conflict by creating conditions in which “our people will be labelled as threats – threats to critical infrastructure or the economic stability of Canada – when asserting their individual or collective rights” as First Nations citizens.

“This is not an abstract argument for our people,” he added. “We’ve been labelled as terrorists when we stand up for our rights and our lands and our waters.”

Another part of the complex, 62-page bill, the proposed Security of Canada Information Sharing Act, would allow 17 government departments and agencies to share and collate information on individuals and groups who engage in activities that “undermine the security of Canada.”