What’s in a Number?
Highway 113, also known as the Nisga’a Highway, heads northwest into the Nass Valley from Terrace. The highway number marks the years it took for the Nisga’a Nation to reach a treaty agreement with the governments of Canada and British Columbia. The Nisga’a Nation’s journey began in 1887, when a group of Nisga’a chiefs paddled from their remote home to Victoria, to speak to provincial representatives about resolving issues with newcomers arriving in Nisga’a traditional territory.
In 2000, the historic Nisga’a treaty was signed, and part of it required that the road to three Nisga’a villages be paved and brought up to provincial highway standard. A 30-kilometre road was also to be built to provide motor vehicle access to the village of Gingolx, which was accessible only by boat and floatplane.
The Nisga’a Nation and the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure have since worked in partnership to fulfill the terms of the treaty related to roads, and to upgrade and maintain the highway. Nisga’a people were employed on the treaty-related road improvements and the link to Gingolx. The ministry continues to provide road maintenance and safety improvements, as it does around the province, to protect lives and support trade.
The Nisga’a treaty ended uncertainty about land ownership and improved economic opportunities, including tourism, for the Nisga’a Nation. Visitors rely on a good highway to enjoy the area’s dramatic mountains and pure waterways, Nisga’a Lava Beds Memorial Park, and the Nisga’a Museum at Laxgalts’ap, also known as Hli Goothl Wilp Adokshl Nisga’a, which houses more than 300 cultural treasures.
For the first time in modern history, the Nisga’a people have the legal authority to conduct their own affairs — self-government. The Nisga’a Lands Department carefully monitors road conditions and works with the ministry on a government- to-government basis. Nisga’a enforcement officers and the RCMP sometimes conduct road checks to keep the Nisga’a Highway and communities safe.
The Nisga’a chiefs travelled a long way in 1887, and the numbering of Highway 113 recognizes the Nisga’a people’s steady persistence to secure a treaty. Today, the route brings new opportunities as the Nisga’a make decisions over their land, forests, fishery and lives.
More blogs highlighting Indigenous peoples and BC transportation infrastructure:
- Learn Indigenous History on the Sea to Sky Cultural Journey
- An Artful Addition to the Sea to Sky Highway Cultural Journey
- Road Trip: Hagwilget Bridge Over Time
- How We Helped Protect 1000s of Years of BC History on Vancouver Island
- Highway 113 – Road to Opportunity for Nisga’a Nation
- Klemtu Ferry Terminal a Winning Collaboration
cheers to the Nisga’a nations accomplishments.
darn nice highway too.
Strong people!
Mark.
Thanks for this great comment Mark!
Thank you Mark Henry yes we have made many accomplishments and there’s so much that you can do and see while on the Nisga’a highway like the Lava beds and all the trails if you know where they are . And yes the Nisga’a people are strong and so are all the other first Nations people in other communities .. I’m from the village of Laxgalts’ap and it’s a beautiful drive to there