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NISGA'A TREATY: truly a triumph over the mindset of B.C.'s ugly past. -Howard



NISGA'A CEREMONY SEALS HISTORIC DEAL

-- Globe and Mail, p. A1, Robert Matas, 05/08/98 --

The Nisga'a First Nation signed a historic treaty yesterday with the federal and provincial governments that is expected to lift them out of poverty and radically change their relationship with their non-aboriginal neighbours. Before it is ratified by Ottawa and the province, the treaty is expected to face vigorous opposition from B.C.
Liberal Leader Gordon Campbell, acting B.C. Reform Party leader William Vander Zalm, and some federal Reform MPs, a few media pundits, and some people involved in the fishery and forestry industries. Some Nisga'a are also critical of the land settlement and the agreement to end their tax-free status under the Indian Act. But despite that opposition, an Angus Reid poll this year showed majority support for reaching treaties with B.C.
first nations. 

TREATY HAILED AS HOPEFUL START

-- Victoria Times Colonist, p. A1, Dirk Meissner, 05/08/98 --

An historic aboriginal treaty more than 100 years in the making was initialled during an emotional ceremony yesterday. The estimated 5,500 Nisga'a are the first B.C. aboriginal group to sign a treaty since the mid-1800s. The treaty must still be ratified by the Nisga'a and the provincial and federal governments which could take up to two years. The treaty has come under fire from non-aboriginal critics who say it gives the Nisga'a people special status and from Nisga'a tribal members who say the treaty gives away too much. The Nisga'a give up future land claims in exchange for the treaty. They receive self-government powers, resource rights and the right to retrieve their cultural artifacts from museums. They will give up their tax-exempt status and the Criminal Code of Canada applies on Nisga'a lands.

NISGA'A TREATY MUST GO TO REFERENDUM

-- Vancouver Courier, p. 9, Rafe Mair, 26/08/98 --

Mair states that although Liberal Leader Gordon Campbell and Gordon Gibson of the Globe and Mail are both being portrayed as racists due to their stands, the treaty must still go to referendum. Mair states, "Let the people speak. Otherwise we're back where we started 200 years ago with natives: deciding what's good for the people without asking their advice and consent." 

REFERENDUM ADVOCATES MISS THE POINT

-- Vancouver Courier, p. 11, Greg Felton, 26/08/98 --

In addition to debating whether to hold the referendum or not, Felton states that Liberal Leader Gordon Campbell wanted to embarrass the Clark government by leaking out the Nisga'a terms and addressing its constitutionality. 

NISGA'A LEADER ATTACKS OPPONENTS OF NEW TREATY

-- Vancouver Sun, p. A1, Lori Culbert, 05/08/98 --

As he made history by signing Canada'a first modern-day treaty, Nisga'a Nation president Joe Gosnell accused the deal's critics of perpetuating a "venomous attitude" toward natives. A report that a plane carrying five people from Prince George to Kincolith, a remote Nisga'a village, had crashed, marred the celebrations. Premier Glen Clark, Nisga'a president Joe Gosnell and federal Indian Affairs Minister Jane Stewart rejected Gordon Campbell's call for a referendum on the issue. Also present were federal Fisheries Minister David Anderson, B.C. Aboriginal Affairs Minister Dale Lovick and B.C. Energy and Mines Minister Dan Miller.
Reform MP Mike Scott declined his invitation, calling the treaty anti-democratic. 

`NO LONGER BEGGARS IN OUR OWN LANDS, WE NOW GO FORWARD...'

-- Vancouver Sun, p. A11, Joe Gosnell, 05/08/98 --

Nisga'a president Joe Gosnell's speech at the treaty-signing ceremony yesterday. He acknowledged past and present leaders for their commitment to the Nisga'a cause, and thanked all Nisga'a supporters. He said the treaty represents a monumental achievement for the Nisga'a people and for Canadian society as a whole, and it proves that negotiations are the most effective, most honourable way to resolve aboriginal issues in Canada. 

TREATIES JUST FIRST STEP ON A LONG ROAD FOR INDIANS

-- Vancouver Sun, p. A1, Dianne Rinehart, 05/08/98 --

When federal, provincial and native negotiators initialled a treaty with the Nisga'a Tuesday, they signalled the start of the next challenge for Indian bands across the province.
Rinehart says that as aboriginal bands negotiate treaties that will give them the right to self-government, they must acquire the expertise to take on the tasks of running everything from village councils to administering vast tracts of forests to running their own health, child welfare and social services offices. It is a task - called "capacity building" or "implementation", upon which the entire success of treaty negotiations rests. 

TREATIES CANNOT BE SETTLED BY PUBLIC REFERENDUMS

-- Vancouver Sun, p. A11, Kathleen Keating, 05/08/98 --

Keating argues that a referendum on the Nisga'a treaty would mark the end of treaty negotiations throughout B.C.

... AND WHO'S TO PAY

 -- Victoria Times Colonist, p. A9, Mel Smith, 04/08/98 --

Smith investigates which level of government is to pay for land claim settlements and says there is a clear answer in the constitutional documents that brought B.C. into Confederation in 1871. When B.C. entered the Confederation in 1871, Ottawa assumed legislative responsibility for its "Indians and Lands reserved for Indians" under the terms of the British North America Act of 1867. Article 13 of B.C.'s Terms of Union with Canada placed other obligations on Ottawa. Smith concludes that the government of B.C. should not only leave land claim negotiations and entering treaties to the federal government, but should seriously consider serving notice on Ottawa that it expects to be indemnified of its rights for any failure of the federal government to discharge its obligation toward the Indians as required of it under section 13 of the Terms of Union. 

B.C. FOREST FIRMS EXPECT LICENCE CHOP

-- Financial Post, p. 4, Drew Hasselback, 04/08/98 --

The item discusses the implications of the Nisga'a treaty for B.C.'s forest industry. The treaty will be signed today in New Aiyansh, B.C., which means that the tree companies logging in the treaty territory - Skeena Cellulose, West Fraser Timber Co. and International Forest Products - will have their logging licences cancelled. The province has said it is prepared to spend $18 to $25 million to compensate "third parties" affected by cancelling licences. Peter Smith, a spokesman for the minister of aboriginal affairs, said formal negotiations on compensation will not take place until the treaty is officially ratified. 

DISSIDENTS FAIL IN BIND TO STOP TREATY SIGNING

-- Vancouver Sun, p. A1, Kim Pemberton, 01/08/98 --

A dissident group of Nisga'a people claim that Joe Gosnell exceeded his authority as council president and did not have enough support form the Nisga'a people to sign the treaty. Kamloops Supreme Court Justice Robert Hunter dismissed the application, saying the applicants did not act in a timely fashion, and that Gosnell showed "no evidence of dishonour or lack of good faith on behalf of the Nisga'a people." Official signing of the Nisga'a treaty will go ahead on Tuesday. Before the treaty comes into effect, it must still be approved by the majority of the Nisga'a people and ratified in Parliament.

LEADERS GATHER TO WITNESS HISTORIC NISGA'A AGREEMENT

-- Vancouver Sun, p. A1, Lori Culbert, 04/08/98 --

Indian Affairs Minister Jane Stewart, Premier Glen Clark and other officials will watch native leaders initial the historic Nisga'a treaty today. The treaty will give the Nisga'a self government over 2,000 square kilometres of land in the Terrace area, a $190 million cash settlement, and set up four village and one central Nisga'a government. Among those not expected to attend is provincial Liberal leader Gordon Campbell. If the Nisga'a approve the deal it will go to an open vote in the provincial legislature and then the final vote will be held by the federal government as early as January. 

TREATY CARRIES HIGH STAKES

-- Victoria Times Colonist, p. A1, Malcolm Curtis, 03/08/98 --

The Nisga'a agreement being signed has mushroomed into more than just a deal to settle land resources and self-government. It has also become an election issue. The agreement will give the Nisga'a a special form of self-government and in exchange, the Nisga'a are giving up aboriginal rights and benefits under the federal Indian Act. Premier Glen Clark has said that this agreement will serve as a template for future deals. Opposition Leader Gordon Campbell is lobbying for a referendum.

AGREEMENT EXPECTED TO ESTABLISH BENCHMARK

-- Victoria Times Colonist, p. A2, Malcolm Curtis, 03/08/98 --

The Nisga'a agreement has emerged from a different process than previous negotiations with 51 other native groups in the province. Premier Glen Clark has called this agreement a "template" for future treaties. B.C. Attorney General Ujjal Dosanjh says the deal has successfully addressed the issue raised by the Delgamuukw decision of the Supreme Court of Canada. Key elements of the pact are outlined in specific categories. 

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