Water is Sacred conference discusses growing concerns with the water crisis in Canada

The event is being held on Kátł’odeeche First Nation until Saturday

A man sitting at a conference table looks at the camera — Newly-elected Dene National Chief George Mackenzie attends the Water is Sacred conference in Kátł’odeeche First Nation. (Submitted by Alana Lamalice )

CBC Indigenous: The Water is Sacred conference is being held until Saturday on the Kátł’odeeche First Nation at the Chief Lamalice Complex, bringing together a diverse group of Indigenous leaders, environmental advocates, environmental experts and concerned citizens to address the growing water crisis in Canada.

The annual event is organized by Indigenous lead, Keepers of the Water, to talk about the importance of water and how to protect it.

Keepers of the Water’s executive director Jesse Cardinal says these gatherings are important to compare information between nations and experts and to validate the concerns people have across the country.

“There’s people coming from as far as Tuktoyaktuk, we have Wet’suwet’en representatives. We have people in Treaty 6 and 8 in what’s called Alberta, and all different Northwest [Territories] communities are coming,” she said.

On Thursday, Dene National Chief George Mackenzie, Kátł’odeechee First Nation Chief April Martel, Dehcho Grand Chief Herb Norwegian, and Sahtu Dene Council Grand Chief Wilbert Kochon talked about how climate change is affecting the water in their regions.

Chief April Martel talked about the devastation from flooding and fires the First Nation has dealt with over the last six years, especially the flood in the spring of 2022.

“We weren’t expecting that flood,” Martel said. “All day we were monitoring, all of our people were driving around. We didn’t expect that water to come and to flood all of KFN.”

People sit around a conference table — People attend the Water is Sacred Conference, which runs virtually and in-person until Saturday. (Submitted by Alice Lamalice )

She also talked about the fire in May 2023 that damaged parts of the reserve, and destroyed 18 homes. KFN members were forced to relocate and some are still waiting to move back into new homes.

“It was a lot of trauma for people and we’re still dealing with the trauma of that,” she said.

Newly-elected Dene National Chief George Mackenzie talked about the importance of sharing and listening to the stories passed down through the generations, and how it connects each community.

“We are all related through the stories that we hear,” he said.

He also talked about how climate change and industry have affected the water and increased the risk to northern communities and people’s health.

“As Dene, it is our duty to work with government [and industry] of all levels,” he said. “We must begin to recognize the inherent and treaty rights of the Dene to safe drinking water,”

Mackenzie said it’s important to work together to share knowledge but also to hold industrial companies accountable for the negative effects of industrialization on the land and waterways.

“This is not a privilege, it’s a fundamental human right. One that must be protected, upheld from all those who share our land,” he said.

The event has partnered with the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment and will feature separate youth, elder, and chief panels, guest speakers, a water ceremony, and entertainment by Conway Kootenay.

Attendees can expect evidence gathering, sharing circles, and calls to action.

“There will be elected leadership that have calls to action, but we listen to everybody. If community people have concerns, we’ll listen to them,” Cardinal said.

Cardinal said it’s important for people to attend and educate themselves because water is in a critical state right now.

“We’re in a drought situation, and industry is not slowing down. They have massive growth plans which require huge amounts of fresh water,” she said.

She also talked about how important decolonization is in relation to water. It involves returning to traditional knowledge and practices, which is a large part of the organization’s work.

“It’s returning back to the land, the original names of lakes and streams, the languages of the land, the medicines of the land, and the animals,” she said.

Cardinal highlighted the importance of not viewing water as a resource but as an essential element for life.

“It’s vital that we take care of water. It sustains life,” she emphasized.

The conference runs from Thursday until Saturday. It is free but for those unable to attend, the conference will be live-streamed on Keepers of the Water’s Facebook page.