Chronology of Events Leading to an Agreement-In-Principle with the Nisga’a Tribal Council

1887	Nisga’a chiefs travel to Victoria to demand recognition of title, negotiation of treaties and provision for self-government.
1890	Nisga’a establish their first Land Committee to begin the campaign for recognition of territorial rights
1913	Nisga’a send a petition to British Privy Council seeking to resolve the land question.
1927	Parliament of Canada holds hearings on Aboriginal title and passes legislation to prohibit First Nations organisations from discussing or spending money on land claims.
1951	Parliament of Canada repeals legislation prohibiting potlatches and organising to pursue land claims.
1955	The Nisga’a Land Committee re-establishes as the Nisga’a Tribal Council.
1968	The Nisga’a Tribal Council initiates litigation in the B.C. Supreme Court on the land question which later became known as the Calder case.
1973	In the Calder case, the Supreme Court of Canada unanimously recognises the possible existence of Aboriginal rights to land and resources but splits on whether or not this title has been extinguished. This decision prompts the federal government to develop a new policy to address Aboriginal land claims.
1976	Canada begins negotiating with Nisga’a Tribal Council.
1989	Canada and the Nisga’a Tribal Council sign a bilateral framework agreement which sets out the scope, process and topics for bilateral negotiation.
1990	The B.C. government, recognising that their involvement was necessary to resolve questions around lands and resources, formally joins Canada and the Nisga’a Tribal Council at the negotiating table.
1991	Canada, B.C. and the Nisga’a Tribal Council sign a tripartite framework agreement which sets out the scope, process and topics for negotiation.
1991 - 1995	Federal and provincial negotiators hold close to 200 consultation and public information meetings in northwestern B.C.
1992	The three parties sign an interim protection measures agreement regarding resources and land use.
1996	Canada, British Columbia and the Nisga’a Tribal Council initial an agreement-in-principle which will form the basis for the first modern-day treaty in B.C.