Water diversion threatens way of life

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Peigan Lonefighter leader Milton Born With A Tooth believes all aboriginal peoples should guard against the diversion of waterways and developments which may affect the environment.

"All Indian people should be in the front lines against unnecessary development. We are a people connected to the rivers...water is our life, our ceremonies, our spirit.

"We should not trade our pure waters, our forests and mountains for hamburgers, white flour and Canola oil," said Milton Born With A Tooth.

The Lonefighters Society, led by Milton Born With A Tooth, has claimed that the dam on the Old Man River in southern Alberta, due to open July 16, will destroy Peigan traditional lands.

Lorna Born With A Tooth, Milton's sister and a Lonefighter, said there may be another 125 applications for dams, levees and water controls being considered by the Alberta government.

"These control systems are part of a Canada-wide (prairie province) plan to divert the waters from the Rocky Mountains all the way to the Red River and Hudson Bay, and to sell water to the United States.

Every Indian reserve and Metis community settlement in Alberta is located on a water-way.

Environmentalists cite clear cutting of Alberta boreal forests and diversion of water as dangerous practices. Some environmentalist fear massive damage to Alberta farming and hunting will be caused in the long range. Traditional hunters, trappers and fishermen have noted the increasing shortage of game and the dying of lakes which were historically productive.

Sending water south the United States, rather than north into the Arctic Sea, can result in massive changes to world weather.