The Nisg̱a’a live in the Nass River Valley in northern British Columbia. The Nisg̱a’a modern treaty (officially titled The Nisg̱a’a Final Agreement) came into effect in 2000. The Nisg̱a’a Lisims Government has the authority to both pass environmental laws and enforce them on Nisg̱a’a land, and does so through various means, primarily using its Lands Department for environmental protection, regulation and assessment functions.

Chapters in the Nisg̱a’a modern treaty relating to environmental protection, regulation and assessment are:

Chapter 8 Fisheries: A major chapter in the treaty, Chapter 8 reflects the importance of fish to the Nisg̱a’a. It gives Nisg̱a’a citizens the right to harvest fish and aquatic plants subject to conservation measures, establishes the terms for Nisg̱a’a participation in the commercial fishery, and describes how the Nisg̱a’a Lisims Government works with other organizations to manage salmon and other fish populations, including allocations for specific species of salmon.

Chapter 9 Wildlife and Migratory Birds: Gives Nisg̱a’a the right to harvest wildlife subject to conservation measures, describes the processes for designation of species at risk, determination of total allowable harvests, and distribution of wildlife entitlements within an annual planning regime. Chapter 9 also establishes the Wildlife Committee (see below for details), and clearly states that provincial laws pertaining to designation of wildlife management areas and critical wildlife areas do not apply on Nisg̱a’a Lands.

Chapter 10 Environmental Assessment and Protection: Gives the Nisg̱a’a the ability to make environmental protection laws that are as protective or more protective of the environment than federal and provincial laws on Nisg̱a’a lands.