FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

COURT ISSUES INJUNCTION AGAINST TERRACE NISGA’A SOCIETY TO PREVENT DISSIPATION OF FUNDS

Gitlaxt’aamiks, BC, December 12, 2013 – Today the Supreme Court of British Columbia issued an injunction against the Terrace Nisga’a Society (TNS) to prevent TNS from further dissipating funds originally provided by the Nisga’a Nation for the provision of programs and services to benefit Nisga’a citizens in Terrace.

Over the past year, TNS commenced two lawsuits against the Nisga’a Nation. In response to these lawsuits, the Nisga’a Nation, as represented by Nisga’a Lisims Government (NLG), was compelled to bring an action against TNS.  NLG’s lawsuit alleges TNS was failing to properly utilize Nisga’a Nation funding, and was instead using the funds on matters which do not benefit Nisga’a citizens in Terrace—such as pursuing lawsuits against the Nisga’a Nation.  NLG also sought an injunction prohibiting TNS from dissipating these funds until the trial of the action.

“As a first step, we sought to protect these funds, to ensure they are ultimately used for the benefit of Nisga’a citizens in Terrace.  The Supreme Court has done so today by granting this injunction,” stated Mitchell Stevens, President of the Nisga’a Nation.

Since August 1, 2013, NLG has, through the NLG-Terrace Office, been providing programs and services to Nisga’a citizens living in Terrace, and the NLG-Terrace Office will continue to do so. 

“This injunction makes sure the funds will still be available to NLG, so that NLG can use them to benefit Nisga’a citizens in Terrace,” stated President Stevens.

For further information, please contact Edward Allen, Director of Communications at (250) 633-3007 or edwarda@nisgaa.net

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