Healthy water fundamental to Treaty rights to hunt, fish, trap, gather and harvest

Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta and the Dene Nation have signed a memorandum of understanding, establishing a formal partnership to uphold Treaty rights and interests “to protect, preserve, and steward” trans-boundary waters.

The agreement brings the Dene Nation and Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta together to care for water in accordance with ancestral laws, Inherent and Treaty rights, and Indigenous jurisdiction, stated a release.

Dene National Chief George Mackenzie stated: “Our waters are sacred with a living memory that is central to the wellness of our people and cultures. This partnership reaffirms our shared responsibility to protect our waters, guided by ancestral laws, Treaty rights, and Indigenous Knowledge,”

He continued: “Together, the Dene Nation and Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta stand united to ensure the health of our waters for future generations and to hold governments and industries accountable for their actions.”

Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta and the Dene Nation have committed to coordinated action in several priority areas, including:

• Establishing Indigenous-led monitoring, stewardship, and guardianship throughout the Mackenzie River Basin, supported by shared environmental databases.
• Expanding the role of Indigenous Knowledge, ancestral law, and Indigenous jurisdiction in water-related legislation, policies, regulations, research, and transboundary governance.
• Ensuring accountability from governments and tar sands industries for tailings pond management, monitoring, spills, and leaks.
• Calling for independent assessments of the structural integrity of tar sands tailings ponds and the downstream effects of tar sands pollution on water, aquatic ecosystems, and human health.
• Seeking reform of Alberta’s Mine Financial Security Program to ensure industry pays the full costs of reclaiming and remediating tar sands tailings ponds.
• Supporting Indigenous-led research into climate change, drought, microplastics, industrial contamination, and cumulative impacts.
• Examining the effects on water, ecosystems, wildlife, and human health of lithium development, hydroelectric dams, and proposed nuclear reactors along the Peace River.

Treaty 8 Grand Chief Trevor Mercredi stated “Water does not recognize provincial or territorial boundaries, and the effects of decisions made upstream are felt by First Nations peoples from the heart of Treaty 8 Territory to the Arctic Coast.

He continued: “Our partnership with the Dene Nation strengthens our collective voice and our shared responsibility to defend the lands and waters that sustain our people.”

The two parties stated their partnership is grounded in the recognition and affirmation of Indigenous and Treaty rights under section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, as well as all 46 Articles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

Treaty 8 Sovereign Nations adopt new name in response to unprecedented threats to the Treat, stated a late-July release:

Treaty 8 Sovereign Nations, formerly Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta, has officially changed our name in response to the unprecedented political climate being fostered by the current Alberta government.

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Treaty No. 8 (1899) was entered into with the Imperial Crown before Alberta was created. The name Treaty 8 Sovereign Nations more accurately reflects and reinforces the sovereignty held by every First Nation throughout Treaty No. 8 Territory.

Grand Chief Trevor Mercredi stated: “Our Nations were sovereign long before the creation of Alberta, and no government has the authority to diminish our Treaty rights. This name reflects who we have always been: sovereign Nations united by Treaty No. 8.

He continued: “This historic change sends a clear message that we will stand together and defend our Treaty, our people, and our future.”