May 28, 2008                                                                            For
immediate release

News Release

Story of Nisga'a
journey now in classrooms

VANCOVER, BC - Nisga'a
Dancing in Both Worlds, a film documenting the historic journey of the
Nisga'a people to achieve a modern-day treaty that secures their place in their
traditional territory and protects their centuries-old culture, traditions and
way of life has been recommended for use in BC secondary school classrooms by
the British Columbia Ministry of Education. 

The Ministry of Education approved Nisga'a Dancing in Both Worlds as a provincially recommended secondary
educational resource for supplemental learning for Social Studies 8-11, BC
First Nations Studies 12, Civic Studies 12 and Law 12.

"Through Nisga'a Dancing in Both Worlds, the experiences of the Nisga'a
people will enrich the learning of BC's students," said Minister of Education
Shirley Bond. "The hard work, commitment, pride, and deep cultural
heritage of the Nisga'a hold valuable lessons for all of us." 

Each secondary school in the province will receive
two copies of the DVD paid for by the Treaty Commission through a purchase
agreement with the film-makers. The Ministry of Education covered the
distribution costs.

The documentary tells the history of the Nisga'a
people of the Nass Valley of British Columbia, profiling their epic 113-year
struggle to secure a treaty with the governments of Canada and British Columbia. It depicts aboriginal history, rights
and title, legal obligations and demonstrates the courage, determination and
triumph of the Nisga'a people. 

Nisga'a Lisims Government President Nelson Leeson, whose words gave rise to the title of
the documentary, says the Nisga'a people aren't afraid to adapt. "We can dance
and walk in both worlds."

The documentary Nisga'a
Dancing in Both Worlds was produced in partnership by film-makers John Bassett and Rosalind Farber, with the funding and
support of the BC Treaty Commission, the BC Ministry of Aboriginal Relations
and Reconciliation and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada.

"Working with the Nisga'a people and all those
involved in the making of this DVD has been an exciting and rewarding
experience," say Bassett and Farber. "We are especially thrilled this historic
documentary will be included in the BC high school curriculum, and hope it may
help young people to understand better the aboriginal experience."

A/Chief Commissioner Jody Wilson said, "This
collaborative effort to see the Nisga'a nation story told in BC classrooms
contributes to our understanding of the challenges First Nations face and ways
in which they can address them and is in keeping with our mandate to provide
educational resources in support of treaty making in this province." 

Copies of the DVD can be obtained from Kinetic Video
at 416-538-6613 or www.kineticvideo.com.

- 30 -  

About the filmmakers

Beginning in 2003, film-makers
John Bassett and Rosalind Farber made numerous trips to
Nisga'a territory to document Nisga'a history and life since the Nisga'a treaty
was signed in May 2000. Bassett initially financed the documentary, believing
the remarkable Nisga'a story had to be told. Bassett has a list of credits
including individual episodes of the award-winning documentary series A Planet for the Taking, part of CBC's The Nature of Things. Farber is a former
producer of CBC productions MAN Alive
and Take 30.  

About the BC Treaty
Commission

The
Treaty Commission is the independent body responsible for overseeing treaty
negotiations within the six-stage BC treaty process among the governments of Canada, BC and First Nations in
BC. It has three roles: facilitation, funding and public information and
education. 

Established
in 1992, the Treaty Commission comprises a provincial appointee, a federal
appointee, two First Nations Summit appointees and a chief commissioner chosen
by agreement of all three principals. For more information about the BC Treaty
Commission or to view a clip of the
video, please visit www.bctreaty.net. 

For more information, please contact:

Brian Mitchell                                                                

Communications Manager

BC Treaty Commission

604-482-9215 or 604-788-5190                                 

info@bctreaty.net