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History made as Nisga'a Treaty is signed (Continued from front page) alter the Constitution Act of Canada. Therefore, as outlined in the constitution, such actions require majority support of the Canadian population. Campbell also said on Monday that a federal referendum is justified because it is the federal taxpayers who will be footing most of the cash in the $490,000,000 deal. Attorney General Ujjal Dosanjh opposes Campbell's allegations, saying the NDP government and the federal Liberal government have the authority to change the pre-existing treaty. Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development Jane Stewart, sees the new revised agreement as a "relationship based on mutual respect and understanding." Also present at the initialing of the treaty was Nisga'a Tribal Council President Joseph Gosnell, Sr. British Columbia Aboriginal Affairs Minister Dale Lovick and B.C. Premier Glen Clark. Clark describes the agreement as "the most significant progress we have ever made in reconciling our communities and achieving the certainty and opportunity all British Columbian's desire." Some of the 5000 Nisga'a view the agreement as a sellout of their rights and see only a settlement for the amount of territory they claim owed to them. The final agreement specifies all personal tax exemptions will cease and future treaty claims are prohibited. It also gives Nisga'a central Government a jurisdiction comparable to that of other local governments. "The Nisga'a struggle to settle the land question for more than a century. In 1887, our ancestors climbed into their canoe and paddled all the way to Victoria, where, on the steps of the B.C. Legislature, they were turned away by Premier Smith. But today our canoe has returned to the Nass." said Nisga'a Tribal Council President Joseph Gosnell, Sr. of the agreement.