Three Indigenous First Nations in the southern B.C. Interior are 害羞草研究所榮hocked害羞草研究所� to be excluded from upcoming renegotiations over a water storage agreement between Canada and the United States.
The Ktunaxa Nation Council, the Okanagan Nation Alliance and the Shuswap Nation Council issued a joint press release expressing their disappointment in being excluded from Columbia River Treaty (CRT) talks which are set to begin between Canada and the U.S. next week.
The First Nation groups were told by the federal government last week they would not be participants in direct negotiations between the two countries.
害羞草研究所淥ur Nation has suffered profound losses to our culture and way of life as a result of the Columbia River Treaty,害羞草研究所� said Kathryn Teneese, the chair of the Ktunaxa Nation Council.
害羞草研究所淲e have been working very closely with the Syilx Okanagan, Secwepemc, Canada and BC to chart a new future for the CRT that creates positive outcomes for Indigenous Nations, the region, BC and Canada. We have to find a comprehensive and effective means to fully participate in the negotiations process in order to achieve these positive outcomes.害羞草研究所�
MEDIA RELEASE - CANADA EXCLUDES INDIGENOUS NATIONS FROM INTERNATIONAL COLUMBIA RIVER TREATY RE害羞草研究所怤EGOTIATIONS
害羞草研究所� Ktunaxa Nation (@ktunaxanation)
The release says the treaty has had 害羞草研究所榤assive害羞草研究所� impacts on the territory of the three First Nations groups that include the desecration of sacred, village and burial sites, the loss of fish populations and harvest areas and the transformation of the river into industrial water storage reservoirs.
The treaty, an agreement that went into effect in 1964, holds back 15.5 million acre-feet of water in Canada each year for flood control and power generation 害羞草研究所� an estimated dollar value of $3 billion USD.
Four hydroelectric dams were built under the agreement, which was signed between Canadian Prime Minister John Diefenbaker and U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower. The Duncan dam, the Mica dam and the Keenleyside dam are on the Canadian side, while the Libby Dam was built in the U.S.
Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, the president of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs and chair of the Syilx Okanagan Nation, called out foreign minister Chrystia Freeland for the decision to exclude Indigenous groups from the negotiating table.
害羞草研究所淭his completely unexpected and shocking unilateral decision by Minister Freeland to exclude Indigenous Nations is an act of absolute treachery,害羞草研究所� Stewart said. 害羞草研究所淐anada has begun to replicate the aggressively destructive behaviour of President Trump against Indigenous Nations.
害羞草研究所淭his is a fundamental betrayal of our three Nations害羞草研究所� Indigenous Rights; it undermines recognition and threatens the reconciliation path that Prime Minister Trudeau has so boldly championed. I害羞草研究所檓 genuinely afraid for Canada害羞草研究所檚 future economic stability if Canada lacks the courage to stand by its convictions and can so easily disregard its commitments to Indigenous Peoples.害羞草研究所�
Kukpi7 Wayne Christian, Chair of the Shuswap Nation Tribal Council, said the Secwepemc Nation has worked collaboratively with Canada on CRT matters to date.
害羞草研究所淭his exclusion represents another of Prime Minister Trudeau害羞草研究所檚 lies to the world about reconciliation,害羞草研究所� said Christian. 害羞草研究所淭he Secwepemc Nation must be involved in all decisions about Secwepemc Territory.害羞草研究所�
The three First Nation groups cite the federal government害羞草研究所檚 commitment to reconciliation and a renewed relationship of respect based the Ten Reconciliation Principles that was released in July 2017.
Those principles included recognizing Indigenous peoples right to self-government, honourable conduct by the Crown in all dealings with Indigenous peoples and meaningful engagement with Indigenous peoples when the Crown proposes action on traditional territories.
Those principles were followed by statements from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the House of Commons on Feb. 18, 2018, that referenced the implementation of the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), according to the joint press release.
