A small rally was held in Corner Brook yesterday to protest the decision to halt talks between the Canadian government and the original members of the Federation of Newfoundland Indians on regaining First Nations status.

The issue stems back to a 2008 agreement when certain members were denied founding membership.

A supplemental agreement was then reached in 2013, but excluded some members of the band.

Gregory Janes, a member of the Qalipu First Nation until the 2013 supplemental agreement, says they were disappointed by the low turnout.

He says what was equally disappointing was that Qalipu Band Chief Brendan Mitchell was not in attendance. Janes reached out to Chief Mitchell and other councillors, but did not receive any support.

Janes says while he was glad to see people come out, he found it disheartening not to see any member of the Qalipu leadership at the rally.

He believes that with several cases before the court, disenfranchised members will see the 2013 supplemental agreement overturned.