A proposed multimillion-dollar private health centre on Westbank First Nation lands is not dead.

That according to Chief Robert Louie, who addressed the media Thursday to comment on what he called  some "extremely negative comments expressed to the media by a small handful of our band members."

Louie said the comments have had a negative impact on the integrity of chief and council, band administration, the membership as a whole and, to some extent, businesses located on WFN lands.

The comments surround a partnership agreement between Westbank First Nation and Ad Vitam Healthcare Ltd.

As part of that agreement, WFN provided Ad Vitam with a parcel of land (about 12 acres). In exchange, Ad Vitam was supposed to raise the capital needed to construct the medical facility.

"This, unfortunately, did not happen," said Louie, calling it one of a few hiccups along the way.

"Our membership is disappointed. This council shares in that disappointment. We had hoped to have this project lifted off the ground months, if not years ago."

Louie said the complexity of the project was at the root of the problem.

"Our general partner's primary responsibility was to find financing for this project. They did in fact find some financing, but not sufficient for this project to proceed.

"Precisely, that's exactly where this project has fallen off the rails is lack of financing found by our general partner."

While Louie couldn't speculate why financing was difficult to obtain, he did say this is the first project in Canada that was to include private medical support.

"That creates some difficulty in itself," he said.

Another hiccup is a mortgage on the property obtained by Ad Vitam which, according to Chief Louie, will come due imminently.

"Our general partner did not repay the loan, therefore we are now responsible to address that debt. Addressing that debt is the responsible thing to do. We will hold true to that indemnification. This is business, and we will not shirk in our responsibilities," said Louie.

The amount in question is $7.9 million, although Louie said that amount could be negotiated.

Band members will have a chance to voice their opinion on what should be done with the land and how the band will repay the debt.

In February, several band members issued a petition asking for a complete, independent audit of receipts, expenditures and liabilities associated with the project. While the audit was not complete, lacking some financial documents from the general partner, Louie believed it was fair.

"Everything has been put on the table for our members, and that's been made very clear. Our members know that," said Louie.

"There are those who choose perhaps to confuse that with unbased facts they believe in ... that's what has caused a bit of concern."

A second petition has also begun circulating, demanding chief and council step down on constitutional grounds.

Chief Louie said bring it on.

"It's nonsensical, it will go no place. There has been no breach of any constitutional matters legal or otherwise. These are very significant matters. Every step WFN takes in matters of this nature, we bring on legal counsel. Legal counsel are by our side and give advice every step of the way.

"If they want to challenge us, bring it on."

Ultimately, Louie said, band membership will determine what happens with the project.

What happens with the land in question is step one – if the band gets the go ahead to re-acquire the land.

He believes, with the membership's blessing, it could be a year before a decision is made on what the project will look like.

Louie does believe it will likely look different than what was originally proposed.

"I believe it is reasonable to assume the medical centre as originally proposed may well change in design and may flow into what we now refer to as a potential centre of excellence. That development is proposed and being looked at very carefully."

Originally, the band was looking to raise about $120 million for the centre.

Louie said one option could be a scaled-down version that is wholly subsidized by the band.

Those decisions will be made down the road.

As for his own political future, Louie said this controversy will force him to run for another term in office when elections roll around in August of 2016.

"Unless something drastically changes, I have no choice. I am going to be running for re-election. This is one of the big factors, yes."