On October 3^rd & 4^th, Nisga’a Nation welcomed visitors from Anishinabek Nation.

Fred Bellefeuille, Mike Restoule and Tracey O’Donnell flew in from North Bay, Ontario (several hours North of Toronto) and travelled a considerable distance to meet with the senior representatives of Nisga’a Lisims Government to learn about the Nisga’a experience under our Treaty.

This technical team met with staff from Nisga’a Child & Family Services to learn about the activities of Nisga’a Nation as we move toward assuming authority over child protection.  They also met with the Superintendant and Trustees at School District No. 92 (Nisga’a) to learn about what we are doing in the area of education.

Finally the Anishinabek group met with President Mitchell Stevens, Secretary-Treasurer Edmond Wright, Chairperson Kevin McKay, Chair of the Council of Elders Oscar Mercer, and the CEO Frederic Tolmie to discuss self-government, education, and fiscal matters.  It was an opportunity for two Nations to exchange information and ideas about dealing with the federal government, and compare the experience of Nisga’a Nation with the early steps Anishinabek Nation is taking in these areas.

Despite this ambitious agenda, the group also took some time to see the sights in the valley.  Nass Valley Tours took the group around the valley, and then toured the museum, receiving a tour from Museum Manager Fran Johnson.  The group was deeply impressed by the exhibit and the many historic artifacts.   The group then went to Gingolx to see the mouth of the mighty Nass River, and saw an eagle on the drive down.

“What a beautiful country you have here” said Mike Restoule, who took so many pictures that his camera ran out of batteries (nevertheless, he still got a pretty impressive picture of moose).

We wish them a safe journey home, and good fortune as they move forward with governance for their people.

(December 8 2009, Ottawa, Ontario)

The Land Claims Agreements Coalition concluded its sixth annual Leadership Meeting in Ottawa on Monday.

The Coalition reconfirmed Coalition Co-chairs Paul Kaludjak, president of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc, and Kevin McKay, acting president of the Nisga’a Nation. Mr. Kaludjak stated that the Coalition has many 2009 achievements to celebrate including the release of it’s model national policy on the implementation of land claims agreements (moderntreaties) in Canada. The roll-out was followed by the Coalition’s third national conference, entitled Claiming our Future: Implementing Land Claims Agreements for Social and Economic Prosperity, held in Ottawa in May 2009.