The Campbell Case Part 2: Nisga’a treaty suit dismissed

The 12-year-old Nisga'a land-claims treaty has been upheld by the Supreme Court of B.C. and a long-running challenge to the deal dismissed.


The suit, claiming the Nisga'a treaty was unconstitutional as it established a third tier of government, was abandoned by Campbell after the Liberals formed government in 2001, but Nisga'a hereditary chief James Robinson resurrected it and attempted to have the historic April 1999 treaty declared invalid.

Justice Smith said that the arguments made by Robinson, a.k.a. Sga'nisim Sim'augit, or Chief Mountain, repeated the claims made by the opposition Liberals, which were found wanting in 2000 by B.C. Supreme Court Justice Paul Williamson.

Justice Smith declared the treaty valid and constitutional.

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