The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs says the federal and provincial governments are wrongfully choosing sides in a land title dispute between two First Nations.

The union says it鈥檚 鈥渁larmed鈥� that B.C. and Canada are supporting the Nisga鈥檃 Nation鈥檚 bid to be added as a defendant in a lawsuit filed by the Gitanyow Nation seeking Aboriginal rights and title over a 6,200-square-kilometre area in northwestern B.C.

The Nisga鈥檃 Nation says the area claimed by the Gitanyow overlaps with its treaty lands, but both the B.C. Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal denied the Nisga鈥檃 bid.

The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs says the Nisga鈥檃 Nation is now seeking leave to appeal in the Supreme Court of Canada with the support of the federal and B.C. governments.

Grand Chief Stewart Phillip says the governments鈥� support of the Nisga鈥檃鈥檚 legal move signals to other First Nations that treaty rights are more important than unresolved rights and title claims like the Gitanyow鈥檚.

The union is expressing 鈥渟hock and concern鈥� at the Crown鈥檚 support of the Nisga鈥檃, which it says has 鈥渉uge implications鈥� and will tie up the case in the courts for longer and increase litigation costs for the Gitanyow.