A First Nations group has told the commissioner of the public inquiry into the Robert Pickton serial-murder case that his final report will be viewed with distrust because of a funding dispute with the provincial government.
The First Nations Summit is participating in the hearings, despite the provincial government's decision to deny several participant groups legal funding.
That decision has prompted most participant groups to withdraw from the inquiry, and is fuelling protests on the streets below the Vancouver hearing room for the second day in a row.
In his opening statement to commissioner Wally Oppal, Summit Grand Chief Edward John called the government's decision "astounding" and says it will hurt the inquiry.
John says whatever Oppal decides in his final report, his conclusions and recommendations will be viewed with skepticism because they only represent the voices of those who could afford lawyers.
John says that apprehension is compounded by the appointment of a former cabinet minister as commissioner and what critics have complained are narrow terms of reference that ignore systemic issues facing aboriginals.
