The Importance of „Traditional‟ Culture in Modern Governance and Legal Systems: A Case Study of the Nisga‟a Nation

In a global economy dominated by multinational corporations there seems little room for what is often rather inappropriately called ‘traditional’ culture. In this paper a First Nation self-government agreement will be examined as an example of how traditional culture can be expressed within a ‘modern’ (or western to be more specific) economic and social framework. The aim of this paper is to provide an example of how one ‘traditional’ societies are adapting the modern world to fit their aims and aspirations, rather than being ruled by it. Through this example, it will be argued that even through a history or mistrust and even violence, a spirit of negotiation and cooperation may prevail.