Conference fosters discussion of Aboriginal treaty rights for water

Expert researchers in Canadian resources law are encouraging Aboriginal Albertans to take a closer look at the issues surrounding one of the most valuable resources in our province.

Increasing industrial development and issues with water scarcity and decreased water quality on reserves were some of the concerns brought to the forefront on June 10 and 11, as the Canadian Institute of Resources Law hosted the “Aboriginal Peoples and the Future of Water Management in Alberta”  conference in Edmonton.

“The conference is about educating the audience and debating as a group what is the relationship between water and Aboriginal people in Alberta, their rights, their needs,” said Monique Passelac-Ross, research associate with CIRL. “The conference is part of the conversation taking place about the future of water and where it’s located and how it’s managed.”

For Aboriginal people, one of the biggest issues related to water is rights — specifically how Aboriginal and treaty rights are fulfilled in relation to water and how these rights fit into the current statutory regime in Alberta.

The government of Alberta may be reviewing the process of allocating water in the future so the topic of this conference was timely, said Passelac-Ross.

“First Nations issues haven’t been discussed much so far. A number of First Nations claim they have certain rights which are not being respected and are not part of the debate,” said Passelac-Ross.

Although the topic is specialized, the intended audience for the conference was broad. Approximately 70 people were in attendance. Various speakers, including chiefs, politicians, researchers and government representatives, presented their views about Aboriginal perspectives on water, how Aboriginal rights relate to water and the regulation of water. Overall, the conference was well-received by participants, approximately half of whom were Aboriginal.

“We were aiming to reach an audience of people who have an interest in water issues but aren’t necessarily knowledgeable about water,” said Passelac-Ross.

The conference helped better prepare participants for future consultations with the provincial government regarding water management, water allocation and how Aboriginal treaty rights relate to water.

“We’ve fulfilled the mandate of public education. It’s up to others to decide what to do with it,” said Passelac-Ross.

The Canadian Institute of Resources Law is based out of the University of Calgary and is the leading national centre of expertise on legal and policy issues relating to Canada’s natural resources.