Nisga'a treaty clears final hurdle

A fight that began more than 100 years ago for the Nisga'a of British Columbia came to a historic conclusion Thursday on Parliament Hill.

A treaty giving them land, hundreds of millions of dollars, and powers of self-government, was passed into law.

In exchange, the Nisga'a settle for a small amount of the vast land they claimed was theirs, and give up their tax-exempt status, among other concessions.

After weeks of debate, Senators voted 52-15 in favour of the legislation, with 13 abstentions.

The deal, which is the first of its kind in B.C., was then given royal assent by Gov. Gen. Adrienne Clarkson.

Nisga'a leaders clapped, some smiling and others choking back tears, as the legislation got over its final parliamentary hurdle.

They said passage of the treaty ends more than a century of colonial rule.

It passed in the House of Commons in December, and has already been ratified by the Nisga'a and the Government of B.C.

The Reform Party, now known as the Canadian Alliance, held up the legislation for several days, trying to force the government to call a referendum on the treaty in B.C.

Some critics of the agreement have launched Constitutional challenges, which have yet to be heard by the courts.