Episode 1: Denesuline, The People of the Land and the Paulette Case with Elder François Paulette

Welcome to As The River Flows Podcast!

With this podcast, we hope to uplift the collective work and voices of our communities in the protection of water. We are First Nation, Métis, Inuit, environmental groups, and concerned citizens working together for the protection of water, air, and land. We acknowledge that all water is connected and that water is sacred.

This episode features François Paulette, Denesuline from Smith's Landing First Nation, Treaty 8. An advocate of Treaty and Indigenous rights. He has spoken to international audiences on human rights, spiritual healing from colonial oppression, and environmental protection. In this episode, François speaks to us about the historic Paulette Case (PAULETTE v. THE QUEEN), which was the filing of a legal caveat concerning the different interpretations of Treaty 8 and Treaty 11 between the Government of Canada and the Denesoline in the Northwest Territories.

On September 6th, 1973, Justice Morrow found that the Dene “are the prima facie owners of the lands covered by the caveat – that they have what is known as aboriginal rights.” He also found that “notwithstanding the language of the two Treaties, there is sufficient doubt on the facts that aboriginal title was extinguished that such claim for the title should be permitted to be put forward by the caveators.”

Although the case was dismissed in the Supreme Court of Canada on a technicality, it was a significant step forward in the collective fight for Indigenous Rights.

Clean, fresh water is invaluable for our shared future and the survival of all of the life we share this incredible planet with. There is hope before us through Indigenous Knowledge applied to our daily lives.

This episode was edited and produced by Beverly Andrews.

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