Cassandra
Dene Nation, Treaty 8 Chiefs issue joint statement on Alberta’s water legislation
Potential for increased industrial activity, water transfers poses direct threat to health of these ecosystems and communities, say Indigenous leaders
Dene Nation and Treaty 8 Chiefs released a joint statement on Wednesday standing united against Bill 7: The 2025 Alberta Water Amendment Act.
In a historic joint meeting held this past week, the Dene Nation and numerous Treaty 8 First Nations came together in opposition to Alberta’s proposed Bill 7. Introduced in October Bill 7 aims to update the Water Act with a focus on permitting “low-risk” inter-basin transfers, combining the Peace-Slave and Athabasca River Basins, and the expansion of ministerial power and discretion under the Act, stated a release.
The joint statement released on Wednesday condemning Bill 7 stated the Dene and Treaty 8 peoples have stewarded these lands and waters for generations, relying on them for sustenance, cultural practices, and spiritual well-being. The potential for increased industrial activity and water transfers poses a direct threat to the health of these ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.
The statement acts as a call to action asking all Canadians to join in opposing Bill 7 and advocating for the protection of the Mackenzie Water Basin.
On November 16th, the Dene Nation reacted negatively over the potential impact of treated Albert oil sands tailings on the NWT’s ecosystem — especially as it was excluded from environmental assessments affecting its traditional lands.
The Alberta government’s Oil Sands Mine Water Steering Committee recently released a report that included recommendations for the “treatment and release” of treated oil sands mine water into the environment.
