Programs

After years of discussing water monitoring data at our monthly meetings, it became clear that we, Keepers of the Water members, would not likely ever obtain in-depth access to the government /industry water monitoring data., nor should we trust it. The ideal solution would be to start our own citizen-driven and citizen-based monitoring program in the Athabasca Watershed.

The initial phase of this program collects essential but critical water quality measurements. As the program grows, more types of measurements will be taken. We are collecting data to determine these critical water quality conditions: Water Oxygen Levels, Temperature, pH, Conductivity, Salinity, and TDS (total dissolved solids).

Despite over two decades of industry promises, toxic tailings continue to grow, leaching into precious groundwater. Keepers of the Water stand firm in our position that there shall be no dumping of “treated” toxic tailings into the overstressed Athabasca River.

Coming soon to your favourite device, the Keepers of the Waters podcast, where we will uplift the collective work of Indigenous Traditional Knowledge carriers, whose work protects water through traditional knowledge exchange. Standing firm in our position that Western science is incomplete without the centring of Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge.

For Immediate Release: March 13, 2024

TREATY 8 TERRITORY-Last week, the Athabasca River Basin submitted a statement of concern to the Alberta Energy Regulator requesting that the Regulator recognize the Basin as a legal person and accept its concerns about an application by Canadian Natural Upgrading Ltd (CNUL).

We are developing our resistance campaign to fight against the expansion of uranium mega projects in Treaty 10 territory.

Past, present and upcoming educational engagement and outreach projects.

“We are going to court to protect water, our first and foremost responsibility. Knowing that Vista will jeopardize and impact freshwater sources is why we’re in this work – to make this corporation accountable and show that this massive mine application will have irreversible effects.”

— Jesse Cardinal, Keepers of the Water, Executive Director

Learn more from the communities and community members of the Arctic Ocean Drainage Basin directly impacted by the destruction of their traditional territories in the name of colonial economic development.