The first modern treaty in British Columbia, the Nisga’a self-government agreement of 1998 set off a firestorm of controversy. Some thought it granted too many powers to the small First Nation community, but the controversy did subside, at least for some time. In 2009, the Nisga’a attracted more attention when Parliament passed the Nisga’a Landholding Transition Act, which allowed members to assume full property rights over small residential lots. A first in Canada, the move set the Nisga’a apart among Native communities.

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The Nisga’a Treaty - Self Government and Good Governance: The Jury Is Still Out - By Joseph Quesnel and Conrad Winn