Conference program - Keepers of the Water

Clean water is a fundamental
human right
and is essential for
environmental, community and
human
health.
As stewards of the many diverse
and significant tributaries of our
great Arctic Ocean
Drainage Basin,
sacred.
we acknowledge water is
- the Keepers of the Water II resolution, 2007 -
Keepers of the Water
IV
The Sacred Gift of Water
Watershed Gathering
Wollaston Lake, Saskatchewan • August 19-23, 2010
Program and Schedule
Keepers of the Water
IV
• The Sacred Gift of Water
Welcome from the Chief
On behalf of the Hatchet Lake Denesuline First Nation I am honoured to extend a warm welcome to the fourth annual Keepers of the Water Watershed Gathering, being held here in Hatchet Lake Denesuline First Nation, of Wollaston Lake, Saskatchewan.
Hatchet Lake Denesuline First Nation is located on the eastern shores of Wollaston Lake, northeastern Saskatchewan. Hatchet Lake is an isolated Northern community accessible only by winter ice road or barge/boat in the summer. In spite of the isolation, our community has a long history of hosting successful events, largely due to the level
of community involvement, interagency and intercommunity collaboration.
While you are here, we invite you to share in all our community, our land, and our people have to offer. You will
notice that our culture and our language are a vibrant part of community life. The agenda has been designed for you
to experience first-hand the cultures and traditions of the Dene People in this area. As well, you will understand the role that clean water and a healthy
ecosystem play in our quality of life. You will experience the power of our sacred waters through one of the many opportunities provided: the shuttle
across the lake, canoe races, shore lunch and water tour, fishing, or a short paddle around the bay.
I would like to recognize the efforts and support of Vice Chief Deranger and his Staff at the Prince Albert Grand Council, and their invaluable contributions made towards making this event come together, and for bringing “Keepers of the Water” to Saskatchewan and allowing our community the
opportunity to host this event. As well, this would not be possible without the support of my council members:
Councilor George Tsannie, Councilor Jean Besskkaystare, Councilor Annie Joseyounen, Councilor Louis Josie, Councilor Edward Benoanie,
Councilor Paul Denechezhe
Finally, we ask that you take your experiences and networks home with you and share the message that all water is sacred. Let us use this gathering as a
catalyst for real change in methods, policies and practices of water protection in our communities and look to the future of how we can work together
to ensure we always honour the “sacred gift of water”.
Marsi Cho,
Chief Bart Tsannie
A Greeting from the Vice Chief
On behalf of the Athabasca Denesuline Nation of the Prince Albert Grand Council Executive, Grand Chief Ron
Michel, Vice Chief Edward Henderson, the twelve Chiefs, and the 35,000 members that we serve, it is my pleasure to
welcome you to the Dene Nene, Dene Heaven gathering. The Hatchet Lake Denesuline First Nations of Wollaston
Lake, SK is proud to host this year’s annual Keepers of the Water IV conference.
The watershed gathering builds on the grassroots declaration, resolutions and rough watershed plan, which began in
Liidlii Kue, Denendeh (Fort Simpson, NWT) in September 2006, and continued in Fort St. John, BC in the fall of
2007 and Fort Chipewyan, AB in 2008. In 2010, we move to Hatchet Lake, adjacent to the Northern Hamlet of Wollaston Lake, Saskatchewan and the uranium mine developments of Northern Saskatchewan.
There are over 100,000 bodies of water in Northern Saskatchewan. The people and communities in this region
in this region have a strong relationship and inherent interest in protecting the water sources that sustain their lives. This year we will focus on
establishing a united voice to address the cumulative environmental issues of our respective basins. Our goal for this gathering is determining viable
2
Wollaston Lake, Saskatchewan • August 19-23, 2010
solutions by identifying concrete and tangible water management actions. This gathering is of significant importance for North American Indigenous
Peoples, and will provide a forum for delegations to discuss the environment and water related issues as they relate to all First Nation, Inuit and Metis
communities across Canada.
This year’s gathering will bring together our elders, youths, leadership and the environmental community to talk about the protection of the sacred
element of water for our future generations. By bringing these experts together during our gathering, the participants will have an opportunity to develop strategies and policies to prepare for the impacts of climate change and industrial pollution effects on water development. From these gatherings
delegates from across Canada can share their experiences, triumphs and tragedies regarding the water on their traditional territories and the methods
that they have used to protect and begin the process of cleaning their waterways and exposing the truth about Canada’s water crisis. This gathering will
also provide an opportunity to share information, ideas, innovations, and the best of practices that seek to both inspire and identify solutions.
As a political representative and leader for the First Nations it is my responsibility to ensure that together we can help secure and protect our air, water
and land, all the living things of today and tomorrow, and to secure the balance between the industry developments and to protect the environment
at the same time.
In closing, I would like to thank and commend the Keepers of the Water IV planning committee and Brandy Smart, Event Coordinator for conducting
and the planning of this very important gathering.
Marsi Cho,
Vice Chief Don Deranger
Prince Albert Grand Council
Welcome from the Planning Committee
On behalf of the Keepers of the Water IV Planning Committee, I would like to welcome everyone to our community and thank you for your participation in this historic event. The committee was established in October of 2008; since that time we have been working diligently to pull this conference
together. As a chairperson for this committee I have witnessed the number of countless hours this group of individuals have given to this program. Our
committee members are committed and passionate in their work. It is obvious that each of them hold the water in such high regard, because our water
here is our life! A special “Thank you” goes to all our planning committee members and volunteers who helped make this all possible:
Chief Bart Tsannie, Vice Chief Don Deranger, Gerry Tsannie, Helene Hugarth, Rosalie Kkailther, Marguerite Clarke, Sarazine Josie Clipping,
Mary Denechezhe, Veronique Tsannie, Monique Thomas, Jeanette Daniels, Trudy Deranger, Virginia Denechezhe, Judy Tsannie, Anne
Robillard, Jean Besskkaystare, Annie Joseyounen, George Tsannie, Rose Tsannie, Nancy Hansen, JB Benonie, Edward Benoanie, Angel
Joseyounen, Brandy Smart
I wish to express a special appreciation to our Event Coordinator for keeping us together and for her strength and undeniable dedication to perfection
that inspired our committee members to work effortlessly towards our ultimate goal, ensuring that this event will be a memorable one for all that visit
our humble community of Hatchet Lake Denesuline First Nation.
A special thank you goes to our esteemed Vice Chief Don Deranger for giving us this opportunity for our community to once again shine for those
who visit us, and the support he gave us through his department at the Prince Albert Grand Council, and his staff.
Our research, brainstorming, planning and preparing is complete and it is time for action. We hope you can follow our path and create action in your
communities towards sustaining our ‘Sacred Gift of Water’.
Marsi Cho,
Mary Denechezhe, Chairperson
A Greeting from the Vice Chief
3
Keepers of the Water
IV
• The Sacred Gift of Water
Welcome from the Chief
2
A Greeting from the Vice Chief
2
Welcome from the Planning Committee
3
Schedule
Thursday, August 19
6
Friday, August 20
6
Saturday, August 21
8
Sunday, August 22
9
Monday, August 23
9
Map: Father Megret High School
10
Speakers
Keynote speakers
12
Moderators
13
Speakers
14
Our sponsors
© 2010 • Keepers of the Water IV Planning Committee
http://www.keepersofthewater.ca
Event Coord.: Brandy Smart, bsmartnorth@gmail.com
Hatchet Lake Denesuline First Nation
General Delivery, Wollaston Lake, SK S0J 3C0
phone: 306-633-2003 • fax: 306-633-2040
program design: Wilton+Wark, www.wiltonwark.com
4
Table of Contents
20
Wollaston Lake, Saskatchewan • August 19-23, 2010
Welcoming Bonfire
Thu 8:30pm: Cultural Village
Opening Ceremonies
Fri 8:30am: FMHS Gymnasium
Keynote Addresses
Thu 7:30pm: Clarence Alexander
Sun 9am: Dr. Manuel Pino
Plenary Sessions
Fri 5pm: Traditional knowledge
Sat 9am: The nuclear debate
Sat 4:30pm: Water management
Sun 5pm: Summary and results
Closing Ceremonies
Mon 11am: Welcome Bay
Conference Schedule
Thursday, August 19 - Monday, August 23, 2010
Schedule
5
friday morning/After.
thursday
Keepers of the Water
6
9:30am
11:00am
North Wing
Gym
12:00pm
12:00pm4:00pm
1:00pm
4:00pm
4:30pm
North Wing
North Wing
Foyer
Wollaston
Lake
Gym
Gym
6:30pm
7:30pm
North Wing
Gym
8:30pm
Cultural
Village
7:30am
8:00am
8:30am
North Wing
Foyer
North Wing
Gym
10:30am
Gym
12:00pm
12:00pm4:00pm
1:00pm
North Wing
South Wing
Gym
IV
• The Sacred Gift of Water
Breakfast
Opening prayer
PRE-CONFERENCE SESSION: Keepers IV Planning Committee, facilitators and presenters
Review of conference goals and objectives, agenda, breakout session and action planning process
Lunch
REGISTRATION AND CAMP SET-UP
PRE-CONFERENCE TOUR: Community walking tour
OPENING ADDRESS
STATE OF THE WATERSHED REPORTS: Facilitated by Keepers of the Athabasca
Keepers from each of the sub-watersheds to share reports on their respective watersheds
Supper
KEYNOTE ADDRESS: Clarence Alexander, Yukon River Intertribal Watershed Council
Recipient of the 2004 Ecotrust Award for Indigenous Leadership for his many years of work advocating
for environmental justice, tribal rights and protection of the Yukon River Watershed, Mr. Alexander is
a respected leader with indigenous values, strong coalition building skills and extraordinary vision. Mr.
Alexander is Dranjik Gwich’in and lives in Fort Yukon, Alaska.
Welcoming fire and evening entertainment
Registration, tour sign-up
Breakfast
OPENING PRAYERS, CEREMONIES AND GRAND MARCH
History of the Northern Saskatchewan Athabasca area: Rosalie Tsannie-Burseth and Marianne Kkailther
KEEPERS OF THE WATER: A HISTORY
Keepers I: Dehcho First Nations
Keepers II: West Moberly First Nations
Keepers III: Fort Chipewyan First Nations
Keepers IV: Keepers IV Planning Committee
Lunch break
Artist gallery and trade show open
WORKSHOP 1: TAR SANDS IMPACT
Community Impacts and Actions in Fort Chipewyan, AB: George Poitras, Mikisew Cree First Nation
SK Impacts of Airborne Pollution from the AB Tar Sands: Findlay MacDermid, MSc candidate,
Environment and Life Sciences, Trent University
Shut Down the Tar Sands: Clayton Thomas-Muller, IEN Canadian Indigenous Organizer
Effects of Oil Sands Development on the Athabasca River and Tributaries: Dr. Erin Kelly, U of Alberta
Schedule: Thursday,
Friday morning/afternoon
1:00pm
(cont’d)
Classroom 1
Classroom 2
2:45pm
3:00pm
North Wing
Gym
Classroom 1
Classroom 2
4:45pm
5:00pm
North Wing
Gym
6:30pm
7:00pm
North Wing
TBD
8:00pm
Culture
Pavilion
WORKSHOP 2: TREATY RIGHTS: WATER AND LAND IN NORTHERN SASKATCHEWAN
The Waters that Bind Us: Transboundary Implications of Oil Sands Development, carbon-copy report:
Gord Vaadeland, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society Saskatchewan
Treaty 10 and Aboriginal Water Rights: Victoria E. Elliott-Erickson, B.Sc., B.Ed., LL.B
Athabasca Land Use Management, Water and Caribou: Diane McDonald and Tina Giroux, Athabasca
Lands PAGC
WORKSHOP 3: MERGING TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE WITH SCIENCE
Traditional Healing Journey and Water Quality Testing: Jon Waterhouse, YRITWC
Clean Drinking Water, “You can’t test your way to safe drinking water”; Multi-barrier approach and best
available technology, how science can reinforce Aboriginal culture: Bob Pratt, SDWF
Water Quality Testing Education Project: Wes Fineday, Northwest Nations Education Council, and
Dr. Heinrich J. Wortche, INCAS3
Snack break
WORKSHOP 1: TAR SANDS IMPACT
Community Impacts and Actions in Fort Chipewyan, AB: George Poitras, Mikisew Cree First Nation
SK Impacts of Airborne Pollution from the AB Tar Sands: Findlay MacDermid, MSc candidate,
Environment and Life Sciences, Trent University
Shut Down the Tar Sands: Clayton Thomas-Muller, IEN Canadian Indigenous Organizer
Effects of Oil Sands Development on the Athabasca River and Tributaries: Dr. Erin Kelly, U of Alberta
WORKSHOP 2: TREATY RIGHTS: WATER AND LAND IN NORTHERN SASKATCHEWAN
The Waters that Bind Us: Transboundary Implications of Oil Sands Development, carbon-copy report:
Gord Vaadeland, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society Saskatchewan
Treaty 10 and Aboriginal Water Rights: Victoria E. Elliott-Erickson, B.Sc., B.Ed., LL.B
Athabasca Land Use Management, Water and Caribou: Diane McDonald and Tina Giroux, Athabasca
Lands PAGC
WORKSHOP 3: MERGING TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE WITH SCIENCE
Traditional Healing Journey and Water Quality Testing: Jon Waterhouse, YRITWC
Clean Drinking Water, “You can’t test your way to safe drinking water”; Multi-barrier approach and best
available technology, how science can reinforce Aboriginal culture: Bob Pratt, SDWF
Water Quality Testing Education Project: Wes Fineday, Northwest Nations Education Council, and
Dr. Heinrich J. Wortche, INCAS3
Break
PLENARY PANEL: TRADITIONAL ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE
Living off the Land and the Importance of Water in Aboriginal Culture: Community Elders
Supper
SUB-GATHERINGS AND ROUNDTABLES
Elders Roundtable
Youth Roundtable
Leadership Roundtable
ENGO Roundtable
Keepers of the Athabasca Board Meeting
Evening entertainment
Schedule: Friday
afternoon/evening
friday afternoon/evening
Wollaston Lake, Saskatchewan • August 19-23, 2010
7
Keepers of the Water
8:00am
8:30am
saturday morning/afternoon
9:00am
10:30am
12:00pm
1:00pm
2:30pm
2:45pm
8
IV
North Wing
Gym
• The Sacred Gift of Water
Breakfast
Opening Prayers
Sub-Gatherings and Rountable review
Gym
PLENARY PANEL: THE NUCLEAR DEBATE
Dr. Jim Harding: Impacts of the Nuclear Industry in SK
Jamie Kneen, MiningWatch Canada: Uranium Mining in Canada, Past and Present
Dr. Bob Patrick, University of Saskatchewan: Water Demands for Nuclear Power on the Northern
Saskatchewan River
North Wing
Snack break
Front Entrance Water tour and shore lunch departure
Gym
Documentary film showing
Grounds
Cultural village demonstrations
North Wing
Lunch break
Gym
WORKSHOP 1: APPROACHES TO WATER PROTECTION
Source Water Protection: Dr. Bob Patrick, University of Saskatchewan
Drinking Water Protection at Muskeg Lake Cree Nation: Jessica Miller, University of Saskatchewan
Water Runs Through Us: Katherine Finn, Northern Saskatchewan River Water Basin Council
Northwest Territories Water Stewardship Strategy: Dr. Erin Kelly, University of Alberta
Classroom 1
WORKSHOP 2: WATER MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION
The Land Alone, “Aski-Puko”, a 1976 study on the Churchill River Basin regarding the proposed hydrodevelopment (Windigo Dam): Robin McLeod, Researcher; Brian Hardlotte, Lac La Ronge Indian Band
Councillor; Grand Chief Ron Michel
Provincial Water Allocation: Jim Gerhert, Saskatchewan Watershed Authority
Challenging Corporate Takeover of Water: Scott Harris, Council of Canadians
Classroom 2
WORKSHOP 3: GOING GREEN
Green Jobs: Dustin Johnson, Sierra Club
Athabasca Enterprise Region, an introduction: Glen Strong, Chairperson
Saskatchewan’s Green Directory and Green Energy Project: Mark Bigland-Pritchard, SEN
North Wing
Snack break
Gym
WORKSHOP 1: APPROACHES TO WATER PROTECTION
Source Water Protection: Dr. Bob Patrick, University of Saskatchewan
Drinking Water Protection at Muskeg Lake Cree Nation: Jessica Miller, University of Saskatchewan
Water Runs Through Us: Katherine Finn, Northern Saskatchewan River Water Basin Council
Northwest Territories Water Stewardship Strategy: Dr. Erin Kelly, University of Alberta
Classroom 1
WORKSHOP 2: WATER MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION
The Land Alone, “Aski-Puko”, a 1976 study on the Churchill River Basin regarding the proposed hydrodevelopment (Windigo Dam): Robin McLeod, Researcher; Brian Hardlotte, Lac La Ronge Indian Band
Councillor; Grand Chief Ron Michel
Provincial Water Allocation: Jim Gerhert, Saskatchewan Watershed Authority
Challenging Corporate Takeover of Water: Scott Harris, Council of Canadians
Schedule: Saturday
morning/afternoon
4:15pm
4:30pm
North Wing
Gym
6:30pm
7:00pm
North Wing
Culture
Pavilion
8:00am
8:30am
9:00am
North Wing
Gym
Gym
10:00am
10:15am
12:00pm
1:00pm
3:00pm
3:30pm
5:00pm
6:30pm
7:30pm
North Wing
Gym
North Wing
Gym
North Wing
Gym
Gym
North Wing
Culture
Pavilion
8:00am
8:30am
9:00am
North Wing
Gym
Gym
11:00am
12:00pm
Welcome Bay
North Wing
WORKSHOP 3: GOING GREEN
Green Jobs: Dustin Johnson, Sierra Club
Athabasca Enterprise Region, an introduction: Glen Strong, Chairperson
Saskatchewan’s Green Directory and Green Energy Project: Mark Bigland-Pritchard, SEN
Snack break
PLENARY PANEL: WATER MANAGEMENT: Finding Industry and Community Balance
Gary Merasty, VP Corporate Social Responsibility, Cameco Corporation
Mike Mercredi and Lisa Deskelni King, Industry Relations Corporation, Athabasca Chipewyan FN
Warren Kelly, Ministry of First Nations and Metis Relations, Environmental Quality Committee and
Public Consultation with Uranium Mining
Alice Martin, CEMA, Aboriginal Roundtable
Supper
Evening entertainment
Breakfast
Opening Prayers
KEYNOTE ADDRESS: Manuel Pino, Professor of Sociology and Director of American Indian Studies,
Scottsdale Community College, Scottsdale AZ. Mani is from Pueblo, New Mexico and has worked with
environmental and indigenous issues for the past twenty-six years. Dr. Pino has spoken at many international conferences including the 1992 World Uranium Hearing in Salsburg.
Snack break
BREAKOUT SESSIONS: Watershed-specific issues and concerns
Lunch break
BREAKOUT SESSIONS: Gathering solutions
Snack break
BREAKOUT SESSIONS: Prioritizing actions, next steps, and timelines
PLENARY SESSION: Summary of Breakout Sessions and results
Supper
Evening Entertainment
Breakfast
Opening prayers and Final Day remarks
KEEPERS OF THE WATER NATIONAL STRATEGY SESSION
Review and evaluate past, present and future conference goals, objectives and impacts, as well as initiate
discussion of the future of the Keepers of the Water Canada
CLOSING CEREMONIES: Closing circle/Drum song, Blessing of the water
Lunch
Schedule: Saturday evening,
Sunday, Monday
sunday
Classroom 2
monday
2:45pm
(cont’d)
saturday evening
Wollaston Lake, Saskatchewan • August 19-23, 2010
9
Keepers of the Water
IV
• The Sacred Gift of Water
Father Megret High School
North Wing
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
Registration, breakfast, lunch and supper
Registration, breakfast, snacks, lunch and supper
Breakfast, snacks, lunch and supper
Breakfast, snacks, lunch and supper
Gymnasium
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
monday
Opening prayer, Pre-Conference session, Opening
address, State reports, Keynote address
Opening ceremonies, Keepers history, Workshop 1,
Plenary panel
Opening prayers, Roundtable review, Plenary panel,
Film, Workshop 1, Plenary panel
Opening prayers, Keynote address, Breakout sessions,
Plenary session
Opening prayers, Final Day remarks, Strategy session
Classroom 1
friday
saturday
Workshop 2
Workshop 2
Classroom 2
friday
saturday
Workshop 3
Workshop 3
South Wing
friday
Washrooms
10
Map: Father Megret High School
Artist Gallery and Trade Show
Wollaston Lake, Saskatchewan • August 19-23, 2010
Only through concerted efforts to
raise awareness,
educate, and foster
positive action
is there opportunity to
address the complex
environmental and social issues
facing the people,
communities and ecosystems
of the Basins.
Speakers
Speakers
11
Keepers of the Water
IV
• The Sacred Gift of Water
Keynote Speakers
Clarence Alexander
Yukon River Inter-Tribal Watershed Council
Clarence Alexander has been honored as the recipient of the 2004 Ecotrust Award for
Indigenous Leadership for his many years of work advocating for environmental justice, tribal rights and protection of the Yukon River Watershed. He is a respected leader
with indigenous values, strong coalition building skills and extraordinary vision.
“Clarence Alexander has defended his traditional subsistence economy of abundance
from the threats of globalization. The leadership he embodies is the demonstrable
strength of Indigenous knowledge, cultural values and vision honed through thousands of years of knowing the land and its systems intimately,” said Spencer B. Beebe,
President of Ecotrust. “Clarence represents the best of effective tactical genius and collaborative governance while bettering community health, keeping intact native food
systems, restoring the purity of water through clean up of human and military wastes,
recycling, and international resistance to oil development.”
Mr. Alexander is co-founder of the Council of Athabascan Tribal Governments and the Yukon River Inter-Tribal Watershed
Council. He is chairman of the Gwichyaa Zhee Corporation and a former Grand Chief of the Gwich’n peoples. Mr. Alexander worked for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game for twenty years, and he has recently completed working on the
Gwich’n Athabascan-English dictionary. Mr. Alexander lives in Fort Yukon, Alaska on the banks of the Yukon River.
Dr. Manuel Pino
American Indian Studies, Scottsdale Community College
Manuel Pino is a professor of sociology and Director of American Indian Studies at
Scottsdale Community College in Scottsdale, Arizona. Manuel Pino is from Acoma
Pueblo in New Mexico. With a research orientation in environmental issues and their
impact on American Indians, Manuel has worked in the area of American Indians and
the environment for the past twenty-six years and is currently working with former
American Indian uranium miners in New Mexico, Arizona, Washington and South
Dakota on health issues related to radiation exposure.
Dr. Pino has spoken at many international conferences, including the 1992 World
Uranium Hearing in Salzburg, about victims of uranium mining, depleted uranium,
and associated cancer deaths. He has served as a delegate of Indigenous Peoples at
the 2001 United Nations World Conference Against Racism in Durban, South Africa and the 2002 United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development in
Johannesburg, South Africa. In 2008, he received the Nuclear-Free Future Award. Dr. Pino is currently part of a research team
from Brazil and the U.S. working on the impact of suicide among Indigenous Peoples in both countries.
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Keynote speakers
Wollaston Lake, Saskatchewan • August 19-23, 2010
Moderators
Alice Rigney
Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation
Alice Rigney is a Dene woman who was born and raised in Fort Chipewyan and comes from a long line of Delta ancestors.
Ms. Rigney was part of the residential school experience for twelve years, which took her away from her culture and resulted
in the loss of her language. She has since regained her language and her identity living back with her family in Northern Alberta. Ms. Rigney is committed to her environment and teaches the language and traditional lifestyle in Fort Chip. She was
also the Conference Organizer for the third Keepers of the Water hosted in her community last year.
Kevin Carlson
Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak
Kevin Carlson is the Assistant to the Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Grand Chief Sydney Garroch in Thompson, MB. His wife and three children are from the Northlands Dene Nation while he was
raised in Duck Bay, MB.
Mr. Carlson has been in the broadcasting industry for twenty years and still does work for Native Communication Inc radio station, but has been with MKO for the past twelve years.
Our goals
for the 2010 Watershed Gathering
• Build capacity for informed and effective
watershed strategy development and advocacy. Integrate the understanding of traditional knowledge, ecological and science
based theory and practice in the management of human impacts on the watershed
ecosystem and Mother Earth.
• Promote awareness of Keepers of the Water
principles through education, cultural experiences and celebration of place.
• Promote the recognition of the Constitution Act, section 35 on Aboriginal Treaty
Rights and the recognition of the United
Nations Declaration on the rights of Indigenous Peoples with regards to water.
Moderators
13
Keepers of the Water
IV
• The Sacred Gift of Water
Speakers
Chief Allan Adam
Victoria Elliott-Erickson
Chief Adam’s childhood in Fort Chipewyan was a time of economic and social upheaval, when hundreds of families relocated from
the countryside into Fort Chipewyan and
then south to the cities to escape crushing
poverty. He has lived his whole life in transition from the traditional lifestyle to the
global economy with one foot in the city and
the other on the land. His life is a metaphor for the Dene who want
prosperity but not at the expense of the Athabasca River and the
Northern Alberta landscape. At ease in challenging situations, firm
and committed, Chief Adam is leading his people to new expectations
and a growing sense of empowerment.
Victoria Elliott-Erickson was called to the Bar in 1998. Until October of 2005, she was an associate with the law office of Pandila & Co.
where she articled with the Honourable Judge Gerry Morin, Q.C. Her
preferred areas of practice are civil law, employment law, family law
and native law, all areas which allow for alternative dispute resolution and creative problem-solving. She represents a large number of
aboriginal clients and was general counsel for PAGC for a number of
years.
Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation
Mark Bigland-Pritchard
Zatlyn Law Office
She returned to private practice and is currently an associate with
Zatlyn Law Office. She has been a sessional lecturer in aboriginal law
and human justice and taught a component in employment law for
the College of Commerce, Certificate Management Program. Prior
to entering law school, Victoria taught senior sciences and maths in
a number of high schools in Saskatchewan and Alberta. She has also
done research in Biochemistry.
Saskatchewan Environmental Network
Mark Bigland-Pritchard is a specialist in sustainable energy technology and eco-building. Mark works as a sustainability consultant and is
the Director of Low Energy Design in Borden, Saskatchewan.
Mary Denechezhe
Keepers IV Planning Committee
Mary Denechezhe is the chairperson of the Keepers IV Planning
Committee and will participate in a presentation of “Keepers of the
Water: A History”.
Lisa Deskelni King
Industry Relations Corporation,
Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation
Lisa Deskelni King will participate in a plenary panel on “Water Management: Finding Industry and Community Balance”.
14
Speakers
Wes Fineday
Northwest Nations Education Council
Wes Fineday is a Plains Cree writer, oral historian, storyteller and traditional knowledge
keeper, as well as a cultural and language consultant, and promoter of cultural diversity. He
is from Sweetgrass First Nation.
Wes is a ceremonialist and healer within the
community. He is a veteran of storytelling
festivals, having performed at the Yukon and Toronto Storytelling Festivals, as well as touring to locations in Canada, Denmark and Japan.
He was also the first urban Storyteller-in-Residence, charged with incorporating storytelling into the Regina community. His specialty is
“healing stories... stories that make you laugh; stories that make you
cry, that give you an awareness of who you are as a human being.” He
has been a consultant to the Sapp Gallery in North Battleford since its
inception. He is currently a Cultural Partnership Advisor with Northwest Nations Education Council in North Battleford, SK.
Wollaston Lake, Saskatchewan • August 19-23, 2010
Katherine Finn
Tina Giroux
Katherine Finn completed her bachelor’s in
Environmental Science in 2007 at U of S. After working six years with Alberta Forestry doing dispatch and lookout tower positions, she
moved on to work with the North Saskatchewan River Basin Council doing watershed
management in 2008. Ms. Finn is an advocate
for respectful use of natural resources and
believes efficiency is the key to sustainability.
After graduating with her Bachelor’s of Science (Wildlife Biology) at
McGill University in Montreal, Tina Giroux went on to receive her
Master’s in Biology in 2008 from the University of Saskatchewan. Her
thesis focused on lake trout populations in Saskatchewan and their
genetic diversity.
North Saskatchewan River Basin Council
Outside of work, Katherine is a strong supporter of the arts. Her home
in Langham, SK is an old general store converted into an art gallery.
She believes art can aid in healing, spirituality and strengthening communities.
Grand Chief Sam Gargan
Dehcho First Nation
Sam Gargan was born and raised in Redknife (native name translated: “among the
spruce”). His wife is Alphonsine (Constant)
Gargan. They have five children: Patricia
Ann, Manuel Jerome, Solomon Lee, Olga
Dawn and Sammy Baptiste. Sam was educated in the north. He is presently employed
as the Assistant Negotiator with Dehcho
First Nation.
For the past 35 years Sam’s career was in politics - first as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for sixteen years, and then as Mayor
of Fort Providence and Chief for two years each. When not actively
involved in his career, Sam pursues his Traditional way of life as his
ancestors did since time immemorial.
Athabasca Lands Office PAGC
Tina began her career in Parks Canada where she worked in Resource
Conservation. Tina then worked for the Federation of Saskatchewan
Indian Nations in the Lands & Resources Secretariat, initially as a fish
habitat biologist. Soon after, she was promoted to Director of the Aboriginal Inland Habitat Program, where she worked with the 74 First
Nations in Saskatchewan to develop and implement capacity building, research and protection of water and fish habitat.
Tina began working for the Athabasca Land Use office in February
2009, in the coordination and implementation of the Barren-ground
Caribou Community Monitoring Project. This project is a result of a
partnership between the PAGC, the Government of Northwest Territories and the province of Saskatchewan. Due to the drastic declines
observed in caribou populations, Tina will work with the Athabasca
communities in order to develop awareness, build relationships, share
information, monitor and collect Traditional Ecological Knowledge
on caribou populations in the region.
Dr. Jim Harding
Canada’s Deadly Secret
Dr. Jim Harding is a retired professor of environmental and justice
studies, and is author of “Canada’s Deadly Secret: Saskatchewan Uranium and the Global Nuclear System”. Jim will speak on the impacts of
the nuclear industry in Saskatchewan.
Brian Hardlotte
Lac La Ronge Indian Band
Jim Gerhert
Saskatchewan Watershed Authority
Jim Gerhert will present on provincial water allocation in a workshop
on approaches to water protection and allocation.
Brian Hardlotte is a councillor for the Lac La Ronge Indian Band
and will participate in a workshop on “The Land Alone ‘Aski-Puko’”,
a 1976 study on the Churchill River Basin regarding the proposed
hydro development.
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Keepers of the Water
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• The Sacred Gift of Water
Scott Harris
Council of Canadians
Scott Harris is the Prairies Regional Organizer with the Council of Canadians, based
in Edmonton, Alberta. Scott has been active
in the anti-globalization and environmental movements for over a decade, and prior
to joining the Council worked in the labour
movement with the Alberta Federation of Labour and the Alberta Workers Health Centre
and in international solidarity through the Alberta Council for Global
Cooperation. He was most recently the news editor at Vue Weekly,
one of the last independently owned papers in Canada.
Numerous trips to the Majority World, especially an 11,000 km bike
tour through India and Southeast Asia, have given Scott a profound
appreciation of the critical importance of the basic human right of everyone to clean, accessible and safe water.
Dustin Johnson
Sierra Club Prairie Chapter
Dustin Johnson is a born and raised Tsimshian from the Killerwhale
Clan from the northwest coast of BC. He is currently the Tar Sands
Campaigner and Community Outreach Organizer for the Sierra Club
Prairie. Closer to home, Dustin has worked on decolonization initiatives and social justice organizing in Vancouver as well as Prince Rupert and Terrace.
Erin Kelly
University of Alberta
In 2007, Dr. Erin Kelly completed her PhD at the University of Alberta under the supervision of Dr. David Schindler. She studied the
transfer of mercury and other metals within the aquatic food webs of
Rocky Mountain lakes.
As a post-doctoral fellow, she worked with Dr. Schindler and a team
of other scientists, including Dr. Jeffrey Short (Oceana) and Dr. Peter
Hodson (Queen’s University) to design and implement a multi-faceted study on the effects of oil sands development on the Athabasca
River and its tributaries in 2008. Erin will present some of the results
from that study, as well as a second presentation on strategy for water
stewardship in the Northwest Territories.
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Speakers
Warren Kelly
Northern Saskatchewan Environmental Quality
Committee, First Nations and Métis Relations
Warren Kelly is Manager of the Northern
Saskatchewan Environmental Quality Committee. The NSEQC is the communication
bridge between the impacted northern Saskatchewan communities, the uranium industry and government regulators. The EQC’s
main role is, through their education and
mine tours, to provide community input and
oversight to uranium mining environmental and socio-economic issues
and in turn, pass this knowledge and insight of these issues back to the
communities. This two way process has greatly increased the north’s
understanding and trust of uranium mining and has assisted the north
in economic and social development. Prior to this position, Warren
was Environmental Project Officer for Saskatchewan Environment in
La Ronge on drinking water, waste water, and municipal solid waste.
He also worked with Cameco at Cigar Lake, a hazardous waste facility
in Swan Hills, AB, on the Sydney tar ponds project, and in the pulp
and paper industry.
Mary Ann Kkailther
Hatchet Lake Denesuline First Nation
Mary Ann Kkailther lives with her extended family in Hatchet Lake
Denesuline First Nation. Her community depends heavily on the
traditional livelihoods of trapping, hunting and fishing. The uranium
mining that has been going on for the last fifty years in the traditional
tribal areas has a detrimental influence on the old ways of living. Mary
Ann’s life has been evolving under the contradictory pressures of two
different cultures and ways of life. She will give an oral history of the
northern Saskatchewan Athabasca area.
Jamie Kneen
MiningWatch Canada
Jamie Kneen is Communications and Outreach Coordinator for MiningWatch Canada, where he provides strategic support for campaign,
consultation and negotiation efforts. His focus areas are environmental assessment and land use planning, uranium, and the African and
Latin American regional programs. Jamie will present a workshop on
uranium mining in Canada, past and present.
Wollaston Lake, Saskatchewan • August 19-23, 2010
Findlay MacDermid
Mike Mercredi
Findlay MacDermid’s background is in geography and conservation. After his undergrad
(Thunder Bay), he spent several years doing
exploration work in the Athabasca Basin as
well as working for and with First Nations
groups. He is now a Master’s student at Trent
University working under renowned water
scientist Peter Dillon, who manages one of
Canada’s most advanced water research labs.
Mike Mercredi of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation will discuss
an environmental fish study and core sampling analysis.
Diane McDonald
Jessica Miller
Trent University
Athabasca Lands Office, PAGC
Diane McDonald of the Athabasca Lands Office, Prince Albert Grand
Council, will speak on Athabasca Land Use Management.
Robin McLeod
Researcher
Robin McLeod will discuss “The Land Alone ‘Aski-Puko’”, a 1976
study on the Churchill River Basin and proposed hydro development.
Alice Martin
CEMA Aboriginal Roundtable Advisor
Alice Martin is Aboriginal Roundtable Advisor for the Cumulative Environmental Management Association. CEMA is a nonprofit
association based in Fort McMurray, AB with
a mandate to study the cumulative environmental effects of industrial development in
the region and produce recommendations
guidelines and management frameworks.
Alice will participate in a plenary session on water management.
Gary Merasty
Cameco Corporation
Gary Merasty is Vice-President of Corporate Social Responsibility,
Cameco Corporation, and will participate in a plenary panel on “Water Management: Finding Industry and Community Balance”.
Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation
Grand Chief Ron Michel
Prince Albert Grand Council
Grand Chief Ron Michel will participate in a workshop on “The Land
Alone ‘Aski-Puko’”, a 1976 study on the Churchill River Basin regarding the proposed hydro development.
University of Saskatchewan
Jessica Miller is a graduate student at the University of Saskatchewan in the department of
Geography and Planning. She is from Vancouver Island where she completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Victoria in Geography and Anthropology. Some of
Jessica’s academic experience includes the development of an environmental impact statement for the building of a traditional fish weir with Tla’o’qui’aht First
Nation, archaeology field work with Tseshaht First Nation, and Cowichan salmon and river restoration.
Her current research focuses on the implementation of source water
protection plans in First Nations communities. The goal of this research is to identify capacity enhancement requirements for implementing source water protection plans. Jessica will be presenting
some results of this research.
Dr. Robert Patrick
University of Saskatchewan
Bob Patrick is an assistant professor in the
Department of Geography and Planning at
the University of Saskatchewan. His research
interests include regional planning, watershed policy and governance, and source water
protection. Current research projects include
a Canada-wide watershed governance assess-
Speakers
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Keepers of the Water
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• The Sacred Gift of Water
ment of cumulative environmental impacts as well as investigation
into uneven access to safe drinking water in Aboriginal communities
in Canada. Dr. Patrick teaches courses in watershed planning and sustainable land use planning.
Bob’s presentation reports the findings of research undertaken in the
Okanagan Basin in 2005 into factors facilitating and constraining
source water protection efforts of local water operators. The results
from four case studies report that lack of local jurisdiction, poor communication between levels of government, and uneven power relationships combine to constrain source water protection. Facilitating
factors include local initiatives of water operators and watershed management coordination with industry.
George Poitras
Mikisew Cree First Nation
George Poitras is a member of the Mikisew
Cree First Nation and previously served as
Chief of the Mikisew Cree.
Bob Pratt
Advanced Aboriginal Water Treatment Team
Safe Drinking Water Foundation
Bob Pratt grew up in George Gordon FN
and has worked off-reserve, but returned to
help his home community treat a challenging
groundwater source. In 1988, Mr. Pratt began
training as a water treatment plant operator.
He has seen his plant progress from Version 1, 2 and 3 of various manganese greensand configurations, none of which worked.
In 2000, the Gordon Water Treatment Plant got reverse osmosis
membranes. It was the first full-scale RO plant on reserves in Western
Canada and remains one of the largest. The manganese greensand pretreatment ahead of the RO continually presented problems until the
greensand was replaced by biological treatment in December 2005.
Bob has helped other water plant operators in many reservations
across Western Canada and is a founding member of the Advanced
Aboriginal Water Treatment Team.
His activism as a political leader has recently
allowed him the opportunity to successfully
protect the interests of the Mikisew Cree in
a Supreme Court of Canada trial against the
federal government. This unanimous landmark 9-0 Supreme Court of Canada victory for the Mikisew Cree in
November 2005 was instrumental in changing the Aboriginal legal
landscape in Canada and raising the standards for government’s legal obligation to adequately consult First Nations. The Mikisew Cree
Supreme Court of Canada decision is now the subject of many legal
forum discussions and national conferences dealing with Aboriginal
law in Canada.
Glen Strong
George continues to act in an environmental/advocacy role and has
taken steps to raise awareness to the Indigenous community of the
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo and Albertans and Canadians generally. He has spoken at rallies on global warming and climate
change and speaks to high schools, colleges and universities while he
isn’t traveling internationally delivering lobbying messages including
the destruction of Indigenous lands, water, air, and threat to the human and animal health of his people from tar sands development.
Clayton Thomas-Muller
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Speakers
Athabasca Enterprise Region Corporation
Glen Strong is the Chairman of the Athabasca
Enterprise Region Corporation. He is also
the President of Athabasca Basin Development Limited Partnership. He will introduce
the Enterprise Region and its call for members, positions on the Board of Directors, and
its direction in the development of the Athabasca Region.
Indigenous Rights and Environmental Justice
Clayton Thomas-Muller has been recognized as one of the “Top 30 under 30” activists in the US and has worked with indigenous communities across Canada to
defend their environmental rights against
unsustainable energy policies and large energy corporations. His recent work has focused on the Tar Sands of Alberta and their
Wollaston Lake, Saskatchewan • August 19-23, 2010
impact on the Dene First Nation. Clayton is a member of the Mathais
Colomb Cree Nation (Pukatawagan) in Northern Manitoba.
Rosalie Tsannie-Burseth
Hatchet Lake Denesuline First Nation
Rosalie Tsannie-Burseth is Former Chief of
Hatchet Lake Denesuline First Nation and an
educator.
Rosalie will give a visual history of the northern Saskatchewan Athabasca area during the
conference opening ceremonies.
Gord Vaadeland
Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society
In addition to his work as Conservation Director with the Saskatchewan Chapter of the
Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Gord
Strong currently serves as Executive Director
of the Sturgeon River Plains Bison Stewards
and as Watershed Awareness Advisor for the
Provincial Council of Agricultural Development and Diversification Boards.
Gord was born, raised, and still resides on a ranch on the southwest
boundary of the PA National Park with his wife Sheila and their son
Jake, in the area also occupied by Canada’s only free ranging Plains
bison still within historic range. He currenly operates Sturgeon River
Ranch, an adventure tourism business that allows guests to view the
wild bison while on horseback.
Jon Waterhouse
Yukon River Inter-Tribal Watershed Council
Jon Waterhouse is a Native American of
S’Klallam, Chippewa and Cree Blood. Currently serving as the Director of the Yukon
River Inter-Tribal Watershed Council, his
past career experiences include management positions at several major companies.
He served in the US Navy for twenty years
and retired as a Chief. He enjoys all that the
world has to offer with his partner Mary Marshall and their happy
malamute, Bailey. Jon’s career paths have allowed him to work directly
with many Indigenous Cultures throughout the world, humbly gaining knowledge and experience that is not taught in a formal school.
He has been with the YRITWC for the last 4 years, traveling along the
Yukon and around the world, working with indigenous people to improve their lives and environment. Whether traveling by canoe, snow
machine, boat, planes big and small, it is all a life dedicated to service.
Jon plans to continue working closely with the many different people
of world through the Watershed Council to develop and implement
environmentally and traditionally sound governance practices, policies and programs.
Dr. Heinrich J. Wörtche
INCAS3
Heinrich Wörtche is of German origin, and
has studied Physics at the Technical University Darmstadt, Germany. In 1988 he did his
Masters in experimental Nuclear Physics at
the Nuclear Accelerator Lab in Darmstadt.
The experimental work for his PhD he did
at TRIUMF in Vancouver. From 1994 on he
held a postdoc position and from 1996 on,
a Assistant Professor position at the University of Münster, Germany,
where he focused on the development of high-performance Nuclear
Instrumentation, bound for operation in leading Nuclear Physics Facilities, like CERN (Switzerland), TRIUMF (Canada) and KVI (The
Netherlands). In 2000 he was offered a Senior Research position at
KVI, the Dutch Nuclear Physics Laboratory, University of Groningen.
Besides running fore-front experimental research within international
collaborations, including the University of Saskatchewan, Heinrich
extended and shifted his focus to R&D projects bound for environmental applications and large scale infrastructures. In 2008 he cofounded the Innovation Centre for Advanced Sensors and Sensor
Systems (INCAS³), a top technology institute for sensor technology
in the North of The Netherlands. In 2009 he was appointed Scientific
Director of INCAS³.
Speakers
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Keepers of the Water
IV
• The Sacred Gift of Water
a special
Thank
You
to our key sponsors
Hatchet Lake Denesuline
First Nation
Prince Albert Grand Council
Canadian Boreal Initiative
Indian and Northern Affairs
Canada
Northern Lights Community
Development Corporation
Additional Sponsors
In Kind Appreciation
Prince Albert Grand Council Sports,
Culture & Recreation
Athabasca Lands
Walter Duncan Gordon Foundation
Transwest Air
Cameco Inc
Pronto Airways
Areva Resources
Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority
Ministry of Environment
Saskatchewan Watershed Authority
Mamaweetin Health Authority
Athabasca Child and Family Services
Points North Ltd
Sask Water
Sasktel
Peace Hills Trust
Canadian Tire
Association Engineering Inc.
Athabasca Basin Development Ltd. Partnership
Sierra Club, Prairie Chapter
Pembina Institute
Yukon River Intertribal Watershed Council
Indigenous Environmental Network
Keepers of the Athabasca
MiningWatch Canada
Econo Lumber
Saskatchewan Research Council
University of Saskatchewan
Safe Drinking Water Foundation
Saskatchewan Environmental Society
North Saskatchewan River
Water Basin Council
Council of Canadians
Saskatchewan Environmental Network
Northern Hamlet of Wollaston Lake
Mikisew Cree First Nation
Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation
Ministry of First Nations and Metis Relations
And all the community members and leaders who supported
this important event through their travel and participation.
20
Our Sponsors