ALBERTA’S NEW WATER ADVISORY COMMITTEE FALLS SHORT ON INDIGENOUS REPRESENTATION
For immediate release: FEBRUARY 14, 2024
ALBERTA’S NEW WATER ADVISORY COMMITTEE FALLS SHORT ON INDIGENOUS REPRESENTATION
EDMONTON – It's been forecasted by the Canadian government that much of the country will be facing drought conditions in 2024. Alberta has about 25,000 water licence holders, holding up to 9.5 billion cubic meters of water. Currently, there is no legislation to force holders to share their water allocations, even during severe drought.
Alberta’s new Water Advisory Committee claims it will help businesses share, conserve and manage water during a potential drought, yet not one representative from Treaty 8 and 6 territory or the Métis Settlements has been given a seat while at the same time, a former Trans Mountain CEO has. It is abundantly clear that Alberta continues ignoring the people and communities already impacted by these historically low water levels.
“At this critical point of colonial water mismanagement, Indigenous peoples can no longer be checked boxes for the mining industries. We demand that an Indigenous steering committee work with and guide this group by sharing land steward knowledge and offer community-based solutions that benefit all people, wildlife and plants over what we know is unsustainable and destructive industrial interests.”
Jesse Cardinal, Executive Director, Keepers of the Water
Image by Tori Cress
Low ground and surface water levels impact everyone and 2024 is forecasted to be one of the driest years since written record-keeping began in our territories. Prior to the impacts of colonization, Indigenous people have stewarded this land for thousands of years and must lead the way once again as we collectively enter into a local, regional, national and eventual global water crisis.
This committee could be a vital first step to managing the remaining water levels, and we urge Alberta to use the resources held in Indigenous communities to aid in a balanced water conservation plan. This can be achieved by including the wealth of Traditional Ecological Knowledge within our Peoples and including impacted Indigenous communities with genuine free prior and informed consent, meaningful consultation and decision-making authority on water conservation policies and forthcoming laws.
-30-
For more information, please contact:
Tori Cress | Communications Manager
647-201-9207