A Comparison of Nisga’a Self-Government and International Standards of Indigenous Self-Determination
- Institution: Nicolaus Copernicus University, Poland
- ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7601-1230
- Year of publication: 2020
- Source: Show
- Pages: 77-95
- DOI Address: https://doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2020305
- PDF: ppsy/49-3/ppsy2020305.pdf
The paper concentrates on the right to self-determination of indigenous peoples on the basis of the Nisga’a Nation. The author analyzes the most important provisions of the Nisga’a Final Agreement, in particular those envisaging self-determination of the Nisga’a Nation. Then the author briefly examines the Nisga’a Constitution which may be regarded as a means to implement the Nisga’a Final Agreement. It shows how the Nisga’a selfgovernance model fits into the provisions on self-determination of indigenous peoples. The thesis of this paper is that the Nisga’a self-governance is consonant with international legal standards expressed in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Nisga’a selfgovernment model is much more than just cultural autonomy: it actually amounts to political autonomy. This subject is worth exploring because it may serve as a pattern to be followed with reference to other indigenous peoples, not only in Canada.