Indigenous Peoples in Alberta Demand Surface Water Co-Management and Conservation Objective Rights
Indigenous Science (Traditional Ecological Knowledge) can no longer be ignored as the only viable solution to the climate chaos we are experiencing
For immediate release: Friday, July 12, 2024
Treaty 8 Territory | Alberta has about 25,000 water license holders, holding up to 9.5 billion cubic meters of licenses. Even during a severe drought, there is no legislation to force license holders to share their water allocations or engage in any accountability for water use.
Keepers of the Water urgently call on the Government of Alberta to declare an emergency under the Water Act and move into Stage 5. The severity of the drought and the subsequent water shortage are pressing issues that the Alberta government needs help to address effectively. This urgent situation underscores the need for immediate action, prioritizing the human and ecological right to fresh, clean water over other interests.
The recently released Auditor General of Alberta Surface Water Management report has confirmed what First Nation and Métis Peoples have long understood to be true: the Department of Environment and Protected Areas has absolutely zero effective systems to manage water resources in the province of Alberta. The report also states that one of the dire consequences of failing to take action will be the inability to meet future water needs for people. This report is a stark reminder of our collective responsibility in managing our shared water resources.
Jesse Cardinal, Keepers of the Water executive director, says, “There are historical concerns with water management in Alberta. Since 1894, there has been a water licensing system called “First-in-Time, First-in-Right” (FITFIR), created without the consent of the Crown’s Treaty Partners, which means when there is not enough water for all the licensees, the oldest licensees get their water before the newer ones. We are looking at an outdated water licensing process purposely created without Indigenous Traditional Knowledge, and we are currently experiencing the results of the absence of Indigenous Science. While Keepers of the Water agrees with much of the report, it states that the Crown owns the water in Alberta; this is false and misleading information. Internationally recognized Treaty agreements with the First Peoples determined that resources would be shared. Common knowledge passed down orally by Indigenous Peoples for generations informs us all that water and land have never been ceded or handed over to the Crown.”
The audit report has found that the Department of Environment and Protected Areas:
has no water conservation objectives in most basins
does not know if existing water conservation objectives are working
lacks robust processes to monitor water pressures, assess risks, and decide when water conservation objectives are needed
has ineffective processes to approve licences and monitor compliance, such as not enforcing licensee compliance with conditions
No process to decide when to develop or update water conservation objectives
No water conservation objectives in most major river basins
The effectiveness of existing water conservation objectives is unknown
Jesse Cardinal says, “We strongly advocate for co-management with First Nation and Métis communities in water management in Alberta. Indigenous Peoples' right to water governance in our traditional territories is not just a solution but the only way to ensure sustainability for all future generations. It's evident that now is the time to come together and work towards a common goal, ensuring our voices are heard, and Indigenous rights are respected.
About KEEPERS OF THE WATER (keepersofthewater.ca): Keepers of the Water are First Nations, Métis, Inuit, environmental groups, concerned citizens, and communities working together for the protection of water, air, land, and all living things within the Arctic Ocean Drainage Basin.
– 30 –
For more information or to request an interview, please contact:
Jesse Cardinal, Keepers of the Water, ed@keepersofthewater.ca