B.C.'s Nisga'a becomes only First Nation to privatize land
The northwestern B.C. First Nation has approved the privatization of 3 homes
CBC News
The Nisga'a Nation in northwestern British Columbia has become the only First Nation in Canada to let its people own tribal land privately.
The First Nation's land registrar says it has now signed off on the first three transfers of property to individuals in the Greenville area of the remote First Nation's land.
The community's leaders say that by allowing their people to own private property on tribal land, something most aboriginal people living on reserves can't do, they'll be able to get a loan, using land as collateral.
And they believe with those loans and opportunities will come new businesses and the prospect of prosperity.
The Nisga'a government's economic development officer Bert Mercer is set to be among the first to become a private property owner. He is proud to show off his home and the well-groomed grounds it stands upon.
"It's going to add value, an additional $30,000 maybe," he says.
But many critics have raised concerns about the privatization of First Nations lands, saying it's a step toward losing their lands, and perhaps toward assimilation.
I can't wait to see how this plays.
The northwestern B.C. First Nation has approved the privatization of 3 homes
CBC News
The Nisga'a Nation in northwestern British Columbia has become the only First Nation in Canada to let its people own tribal land privately.
The First Nation's land registrar says it has now signed off on the first three transfers of property to individuals in the Greenville area of the remote First Nation's land.
The community's leaders say that by allowing their people to own private property on tribal land, something most aboriginal people living on reserves can't do, they'll be able to get a loan, using land as collateral.
And they believe with those loans and opportunities will come new businesses and the prospect of prosperity.
The Nisga'a government's economic development officer Bert Mercer is set to be among the first to become a private property owner. He is proud to show off his home and the well-groomed grounds it stands upon.
"It's going to add value, an additional $30,000 maybe," he says.
But many critics have raised concerns about the privatization of First Nations lands, saying it's a step toward losing their lands, and perhaps toward assimilation.
I can't wait to see how this plays.