Keepers of the Water and Keepers of the Athabasca Amalgamate

It is with pride and enthusiasm Keepers of the Water and Keepers of the Athabasca wish to announce that they have amalgamated into one group: Keepers of the Water Society.

Keepers of the Water (KOW) was founded in 2006 by Indigenous and non-Indigenous people who have walked alongside each other guided by Indigenous wisdom, knowledge, science, and culture. Additionally, the 2006 KOW Declaration ratified in 2007 asserts the sacredness of water and KOW’s mandate to honour and protect her.

In 2010 it became evident that Tar Sands issues were increasingly time consuming. As a result, Keepers of the Athabasca (KOA) emerged. This group’s focus was on the Athabasca River Basin.

In 2020, after a reassessment, it became clear that members of both groups overlapped and, in the end, worked on similar issues. Consequently, the Board of Directors of KOW and KOA came together to discuss the feasibility of amalgamating into one group known as Keepers of the Water Society. After much discussion, meetings, research, planning, and a special joint meeting of KOW and KOA membership the amalgamation officially came to be.

KOW and KOA recognize that separately great work was done and understand that together we are stronger. Furthermore, the amalgamation ensures that there will be increased staffing and an end to overlapping funding requests.

KOA’s focus that has been on the Tar Sands and the Athabasca River Basin will remain a top priority and a subgroup of the newly amalgamated Keepers of the Water Society will hold fast to this.

KOW is engaging in and/or planning to move forward with the following projects.

• Protection of the Athabasca River Basin and downstream communities through monitoring tar sands and tailings pond activities and actions.

• Vista Coal Mine expansion dissolution and resultant reduction of carbon emissions through a partnership with Ecojustice.

• Introduction of Indigenous knowledge and wisdom to educate others and promote an appreciation for sacredness and importance of the mountains.

• Provision of Water Teachings through a multi-media platform such as the KOW website. Water Teachings will be taught from an Indigenous lens provided by Knowledge Keepers and Wisdom Holders as well as through other sources of education on the importance of water.

• Partnership engagement in water decolonization. This entails partnering with other Indigenous groups who are involved in water education and protection in areas of research, community-based projects, and/or multi-media initiatives.

• Indigenous and Treaty Rights Education. KOW strives to elevate the message that lands, water and all living things are connected. The inherent rights of Indigenous Peoples hold the solution to the climate and land crisis found in the world today. Education is key in this area. KOW partners with others in its efforts to ensure this education occurs far and wide.

It is important to note that Keepers of the Water is a small nonprofit organization that operates on grants and donations. Therefore, we are reaching out to our friends and networks in hopes that you can offer a donation or guide us to contacts for potential funding or opportunities in order for us to sustain our organization and its important work. You can contact us by emailing Jesse Cardinal at nipiy3@gmail.com or via phone at 780-520-7108.

In closing, thank you to all the donors, foundations, and funders who have believed in and supported our work thus far. We could not have made it without you.

We look forward to hearing from you. Together we can make a difference.

Sincerely,

Keepers of the Water Board and Council