May 27, 1998, signed by Joseph Gosnell, Nelson Leeson and Edmond Wright of the Nisg`a Nation and By Premier Glen Clark for the Province of British Columbia. Jane Stewart, then Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, signed the agreement for the Canadian federal government on May 4, 1999. 3 The Nisga`a Final Agreement is a treaty and land agreement within the meaning of Articles 25 and 35 of the Constitution Act 1982. In addition, many Nisga`a government agencies are subject to federal or provincial standards that adopt a “meet or beat” approach. This approach is being adopted in a number of areas, including education, child and family services, adoption and forestry. The well-being of children is a good example of how it works. Nisga`a laws are a priority if they meet or exceed provincial child protection standards – but federal and provincial laws that require notification of children in health care continue to apply. The provincial government can continue to act as needed to protect a child at risk under the agreement between the Nisga`a and B.C. In the early 1970s, successive court proceedings confirmed that Aboriginal rights and title were legal rights and existed, whether governments recognized them or not. In 1982, Act 35 contained a provision that recognizes and upholds existing Aboriginal and contractual rights. In 1983, an amendment was introduced to clarify that it includes rights in land agreements. Canadian courts have held that the best way to achieve this reconciliation is to negotiate and obtain agreements, not litigation or conflict.

The Nisga`a Agreement, also known as the Nisga`a Treaty, is a contract between the Nisg-a, the Government of British Columbia and the Government of Canada, signed on May 27, 1998 and entered into force on May 11, 2000. [1] In the wet valley, nearly 2,000 km2 of land has been officially recognized as Nisg`a[2] and a water reserve of 300,000 cubic centimeters (× about 240,000 acre-feet) has been created. Bear Glacier Provincial Park was also created as a result of this agreement. Thirty-one Nisga`a place names in the region have been officially named. [3] The Land-Claim Colony was the first formal treaty of the modern era in the province – the first signed by a First Nation nation in British Columbia since the De Douglas contracts in 1854 (for the Vancouver Island territories) and Treaty 8 in 1899 (in northeastern British Columbia). The agreement gives the Nisga`a control of their country, including the forest and fisheries resources it contains. The Nisga treaty defines the country and resources that are part of the agreement between Canada, B.C. and the Nisga`a Nation.

The treaty defines Nisga`s right to autonomy and the power to manage land and resources. The treaty and related agreements bring the Nisga`a together: the Nisga`a Treaty is an agreement negotiated between the Nisga`a Nation, the Government of British Columbia (B.C.) and the Government of Canada. It came into force on May 11, 2000. The Nisga treaty has been the subject of extensive discussion within the B.C, as well as in the House of Commons and the Senate of Canada. The treaty contains provisions that reflect how governments have responded to the concerns of public opinion and third parties that have been brought to the attention of negotiators. Nearly 500 public information and third-party consultation meetings were held during the negotiations. 4 (1) Nisga`s final agreement has been approved, effective and validated and has the force of law.