- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -

The Nisga’a Nation Welcomes the Honourable Melanie Mark & her daughter Makayla Mark to their ancestral territories.

The Honourable Melanie Mark, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport visited the Nisga’a Lisims Government during her July travels in the Nass Valley. Nisga'a, Gitxsan, Cree, and Ojibway, Minister Mark has visited the Nass at least twenty times but this was the first time that the Minister brought her younger daughter, Makayla, to the area.

The Minister was greeted by Nisga’a Lisims Government (NLG) President, Eva Clayton; NLG Chairperson, Brian Tait; NLG Secretary-Treasurer Charles Morven, and Bobby Clark, Director of Communications & Intergovernmental Relations at Nisga’a Lisims Government. Together they spoke about such topics as infrastructure, culture, sport, children in custody, and projects that Minister Mark worked on when Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Training. After a brief tour of Nisga’a Lisims Government Main Building, the Minister, Mikayla, and Diego Cardone, the Minister’s Advisor, were introduced to other important places:

Minister Mark visited the Smoke Houses in Gitlaxt’aamiks (formerly New Aiyansh) and was introduced to the program which teaches traditional preparation of fish and seaweed to Nisga’a who are paid to do so for a whole season. While on the property the minister was also shown the community garden program, the sounds of new green houses under construction next to the garden impressed the Young Miss Mark. While standing under suspended salmon for smoking, NLG Chairperson Brian Tait asked Makayla what she thought, she responded “Oh, I’m coming back here next year” she smiled, still looking at the rich reds in the drying salmon meat.

Minister Mark then visited the properties of Vetter Falls Lodge where the Government of British Columbia has provided funding to improve the property, readying it for tourism. The Minister was able to sneak a peek at the accessibility suite being installed and was reminded of previous visits as a guest.

With NLG, Minister Mark finally visited the Nisg̱a’a Memorial Lava Bed Park Visitor’s Centre. The minister then dashed off to Gitwinksihlkw where Nisga’a students can soon expect a Gymnasium worth over $6.3 million; the build prioritizes accessibility and offers students gender neutral washrooms. Previously attending gym at the community’s shared Ts’oohl Ts’ap Memorial Centre, the students in Kindergarten to Grade 7 will have a gym dedicated to their needs as early as September 2023.

Nisga’a Lisims Government was proud to welcome two generations of proud Nisga’a Leaders and look forward to our future visits. T'ooyaḵsiy̓ n̓iin, sa'aamhl wilin!