Group to represent Qalipu applicants

A new group wants to represent the 70,000 people vying to be included in the Qalipu First Nation.

Hector Pearce, vice chair of Qalipu Watchdogs, said the group plans to put pressure on the federal government and the band council to give everyone a fair chance to join.

"Primarily, what were trying to do is to catalogue the concerns and the inconsistencies with the whole application process," Pearce said.

"We're hoping to convince the Qalipu First Nations band and the department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development to agree on a structure through which all applications will be assessed using exactly the same criteria that was used prior to December."

The new Mi'kmaq band has been overwhelmed with membership applications, and Ottawa has hired a lawyer to review the process.

Band and government officials begin meetings again on Monday to discuss the application review process.