Tribe's Claim to Land in British Columbia Near Completion
12/30/99
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RELAYED TEXT STARTS HERE:
Title: Tribe's claim to land in British Columbia one step from
completion
Source: Indian Country Today, Rapid City, S.D. Knight Ridder/Tribune
Status: Copyright 1999, contact source for permission to reprint
Date: December 30, 1999
Byline: Jamie Monastyrski
The precedent-setting Nisga'a Treaty, which will give more than 5,000
Nisga'a people about 2,000 square kilometers of land and more than
$200 million in cash, is one step away from reality.
The bill passed the House of Commons and heads to the Senate for
royal assent, the final step in a process that has taken the Nisga'a
more than 100 years.
The controversial land claim sought by the Nisga'a of northwestern
British Columbia will also give the Natives sweeping self-government
powers. In exchange, the Nisga'a will give up tax-exempt status, any
future claims and settle for only a fraction of their traditional
territory. They will however, have the rights to the natural
resources, which include all forestry and mining endeavors.
"It's finally out from under the Department of Indian Affairs that
has hampered our right to determine our future in regards to the land
and resources," said Eric Grandison, communication coordinator for
the Nisga'a Tribal Council. He said treaty negotiators are relieved
that it is out of the House of Commons and headed for the Senate.
"The elders feel good and are excited about the new direction we're
taking especially as we move into a new century," Grandison said.
In 1887 Nisga'a chiefs traveled by canoe to Victoria, British
Columbia, to demand negotiation of treaties and self-government.
It wasn't until 1968 that the land question was taken to the
provincial supreme court and 1976 before the federal government began
negotiations with the Nisga'a tribal council. The agreement wasn't
ratified until 1998.
There has been "vigorous opposition" by the country's opposition
party; The Reform, which says the deal is "race-based," is creating a
separate state. The party fears the Nisga'a will have the ability to
tax non-Natives whose land rights won't be protected.
The party held up consideration in the House of Commons calling for
more than 400 amendments to the agreement and forcing the members of
Parliament to vote for almost 43 straight hours. A province-wide
referendum spearheaded by the British Columbia opposition Liberals is
in the works once the bill passes Senate.
Indian Affairs Minister Bob Nault said the treaty has become the
victim of "myths and misinformation." He informed the members of
Parliament that the Nisga'a government will not have exclusive law-
making jurisdiction and must operate under the Canadian Charter of
Rights and Freedoms.