A deal between the federal government and the Musqueam First Nation is still attracting attention and confusion, days after the announcement.

Nearly two weeks ago, the federal government signed off on three new agreements with the Musqueam Nation, recognizing its stewardship of marine management, fisheries management and a recognition of its Aboriginal rights, including title within the nation’s traditional territory.

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It’s an agreement aimed at reconciliation and the recognition of rights.

Musqueam Chief Wayne Sparrow says co-management, self-government, and clear definitions are all components of what has been negotiated.

“We don’t have a treaty here in Vancouver in Musqueam, and it’s recognizing our rights, and we’re trying to negotiate what those rights mean,” Sparrow told CityNews.

But exact details of the deal have remained unclear — even to the provincial government.

On Monday, Premier David Eby said he hasn’t been briefed on the agreement’s contents.

“I look forward to learning more about what the federal government has been doing here. It’s important work, I’m sure, with Musqueam,” said Eby.

That said, the agreement became a topic of interest among Eby’s opposition in Question Period. The BC Conservatives pushed the BC NDP on the language of the agreement and what it could mean for landowners in the province.

Scott McInnis, MLA for Columbia River-Revelstoke and Critic for Indigenous Relations, incredulously asked, “This is one of the most prominent Indian bands in British Columbia, whose traditional territory, yes, includes Metro Vancouver, and this government had no idea this agreement was being signed?”

Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation Spencer Chandra Herbert says the province was not included.

“I did not sit at a negotiation table,” said Chandra Herbert.

“I have not seen the agreement.”

Anita Boscariol, a lawyer at Vancouver firm Watson Goepel, says the agreements’ claims on land use shouldn’t be cause for concern.

“This agreement recognizes that Musqueam has Aboriginal rights, including title, within their traditional territory,” Boscariol explained.

“It does not say they have Aboriginal title over the entire claimed territory.”

She says the agreements are in keeping with Section 35 of Canada’s Constitution Act, which simply says “the existing Aboriginal and treaty rights of the Aboriginal peoples of Canada are hereby recognized and affirmed.”

Boscariol says no First Nation has asked for title over private property or claimed it in any case so far.

“It’s understandable that people might be a little nervous, but really, at the end of the day, there’s really no reason to be at this point.”

Crown-Indigenous Relations Canada has confirmed Boscariol’s sentiment in a statement with CityNews.

“The Musqueam Agreements do not affect privately owned land. The Incremental Recognition Agreement provides general recognition that Musqueam has Aboriginal rights and title within their territory,” the statement said.

Sparrow says the nation is not going after third-party land.

“We have concerns over some of the third-party land, but that’s the colonial system, is that we have to negotiate with the Crown, and the federal and provincial governments are the Crown.”