FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NISGA’A NATION TAKES ACTION TO PREVENT DISSIPATION OF FUNDS BY TERRACE NISGA’A SOCIETY

Gitlaxt’aamiks, BC, November 13, 2013 – The Nisga’a Nation filed an application today for an injunction in the British Columbia Supreme Court, seeking to prevent the Terrace Nisga’a Society (TNS) from further dissipating funds originally provided by the Nisga’a Nation for the provision of programs and services benefitting Nisga’a citizens in Terrace.

"We are obligated to seek an injunction from the court to protect these funds" stated Mitchell Stevens, President of the Nisga’a Nation.

"Instead of using these funds to provide programs and services for Nisga’a citizens in Terrace, as required by our funding agreement with TNS," continued President Stevens, "TNS used the funds to pay for lawsuits against the Nisga’a Nation, spending over $110,000 in the last year alone. We are concerned (TNS) will continue to use funds in this manner going forward."

TNS has also failed to provide monthly and annual financial statements, detailing how TNS is using funds provided by the Nisga’a Nation.

In July, the Nisga’a Nation terminated its funding agreement with TNS, and according to its terms, any remaining funds TNS held as of July 31, 2013 were to be returned to the Nisga’a Nation. Despite three written requests by the Nisga’a Nation, TNS failed to return any remaining funds.

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

"Nisga’a citizens have been asking Nisga’a Lisims Government how it can be that (TNS) is using funds intended to be used to provide programs and services, to instead sue the Nisga’a Nation. The Nisga’a Nation is trying to get these funds back, so we can actually use the funds to continue providing programs and services through the NLG-Terrace Office. This injunction is the first step", 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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