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The re-approval of the Trans Mountain expansion throws open the door for pro-pipeline First Nations to gain an ownership stake in the project, which could pose a public relations dilemma for opponents.

Ottawa will kick off a series of meetings with interested First Nations starting July 22 in Vancouver, with stops in Victoria, Kamloops and Edmonton. The government is prepared to discuss equity ownership, revenue sharing and royalty agreements with 129 First Nations, according to the department of finance.

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Interest from First Nations is considerable.

The Indian Resource Council — which represents more than 130 First Nations with oil and gas resources on their territories — has already consulted with the federal government and led preliminary meetings with First Nations about making a bid for the pipeline.

The federal government bought the Trans Mountain pipeline for $4.5 billion last summer when Kinder Morgan threatened to cancel a planned expansion due to delays in the approval process and legal challenges brought by a handful of First Nations.