Championing Water Stewardship: Indigenous Youth Leader Trinda Cote Leads the Way |
In this edition, we embark on an exploration of the thoughtful efforts spearheaded by Indigenous Youth Ambassador, Trinda Cote in the realm of water stewardship for Living Lakes Canada. This BC-rooted organization is a charitable water stewardship NGO working with community groups to protect freshwater. |
Trinda Cote pictured at Generation8 Nativigation8 Gathering.. |
Trinda is connected to Secwepemc and Ktunaxa Nations in the east Kootenays. Growing up in her ancestral territories, living and being a part of the land and water. Trinda has learned from an early age the inseparable connection her peoples have to the land. Particularly, the Secwepemc, known as the salmon people, speak to Indigenous peoples' life-sustaining relationship with water. The roles of water, land, and Indigenous people are deeply interconnected. Indigenous peoples steward the land to ensure the health of all human and non-human relations. Caring for this delicate balance includes water stewardship and is a responsibility of all. Trinda has used her position to champion water stewardship and uphold the sacredness of these life-sustaining ecosystems by raising awareness and mobilizing others to safeguard water resources. Drawing on her culture, Trinda has shared an important indigenous lens to water stewardship connected to the Secwepemc language, stories, and teachings related to our current world with climate change, conservation, and water stewardship. One example of her work is her role in publishing the Living Lakes blog post, The Youth Perspective: A watershed victory for the Grizzly Bear Spirit. |
As a youth ambassador, Trinda has had the opportunity to learn and be a part of the message of collective water stewardship, including engaging with the broader community across Turtle Island at the Changing Currents: Tribal Water summit in Oregon hosted by the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians. |
Central to advocacy is recognizing the invaluable contributions of Indigenous knowledge in shaping sustainable water management practices. Trinda firmly believes communities can forge holistic solutions to address water-related challenges by honouring and integrating traditional teaching with Western science approaches. Collaborative efforts can connect everyone for the sustainability of life for human and non-human relations. |
Digital art produced by Trinda Cote. |
"Water can be used as a tool of reconciliation because it's such an important part of all life and being able to kind of use that to create positive outcomes and really connect these different Indigenous tribes, groups, and bands." |
In offering guidance to fellow First Nations youth embarking on the journey of water stewardship, Trinda suggests that youth connect locally with bands, communities, and local organizations to support their interest in water stewardship. She emphasizes the need for young leaders to uphold Indigenous ways of knowing and teachings as powerful assets for positive change within and affecting their communities. |
As we celebrate the unwavering commitment and passion of youth leaders like Trinda Cote, let us continue to rally behind and support their efforts in championing the cause of water stewardship. For further insights and opportunities to engage with Trinda Cote, please reach out at trinda.cote@gmail.com. |
The Assembly of First Nations will host the forum to offer discussion, presentations, and updates, from First Nation emergency management practicioners, successes, and challenges. To faciliate dialogue on the development of the care and control of culturally relevant emergency management. |
The Environment and Climate Change Canada and Centre of Indigenous Environmental Resources invite communities to the in-person Federal Caribou Workshop series. This workshop will showcase Indigenous actions to recover caribou, support relationship building, and allow Indigenous communities and organizations to collaboratively review and discuss the proposed changes to the Recovery Strategy. This event is open to presentations on the community's caribou recovery actions or programs. Funding is available for presenter attendance. |
The Emergency Management Forum is deliverable under the Tripartite MOU between FNLC Canada and BC. The Forum aims to create a venue for First Nations Chiefs, First Nations emergency management personnel and experts, government officials and other partners to discuss how to improve First Nations jurisdiction and governance in all aspects of emergency management. |
Naqsmist and BCAFN have joined forces to collaborate with First Nations title and rights holders in co-developing the FNCL Agenda in BC. In April and May, a series of engagement activities will be conducted across BC to foster discussions and identify key priority actions and recommendations to the federal government for implementing and advancing the BC FNCL Agenda while ensuring guiding principles are upheld. Continued in-person future engagements are listed below. |
- Terrace, April 11, 2024
- Campbell River, April 23, 2024
- Chilliwack, April 25, 2024
- Prince George April 30, 2024
- Fort St.John, May 2, 2024
- Kamloops, May 7, 2024
- Haida Gwaii, May 22, 2024
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Please join the Assembly of First Nations at the in-person Water Symposium and Trade Show. The event is focused on addressing important water-related issues that First Nations are facing, such as access to safe, clean water and sanitation. This year's theme is "Bridging the Gap", which aims to bring attention to legislation, sustainable funding, long-term transfer of care and control, and the implications of a new national water agency for First Nations. |
First Nations Major Projects Coalition is hosting Our Collective Advantage: Indigenous Consent. to see how Indigenous rights, included in UNDRIP-driven Indigenous-industry partnerships, drive commercial success that benefits all. Several speakers will discuss Indigenous influence on finance, corporate partnerships, UNDRIP, Environmental Indigenous consent, energy, and mining, etc. |
Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) provides the funding stream to support applicants to reduce risks from future disasters due to natural hazards and climate-related risks through the development and implementation of: accurate foundation knowledge climate related risks, adaptation strategies. Funding is divided in three catagories: |
- $150,000 Foundational: risk mapping, assessment, planning
- $150,000 Non-structural: land use planning, community education, purchase of eligible equipment.
- $2,000,000 Small scale structural activities
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The CAF Stream 1: Support for communities with authority to adopt energy codes. The funding will support efforts to accelerate code adoption, compliance, and enforcement in their jurisdiction. |
The CAF Stream 2: Support for organizations without the authority to adopt energy codes. The funding will support efforts to accelerate code adoption, compliance, and enforcement. The funding may be used for developing training, tools, resources or other capacity. |
The FNCEBF aims to promote increased Indigenous community participation in the clean energy sector within their territories and treaty areas, by supporting applicants up to $50,000 to undertake activities such as feasibility studies to engage with proponents of clean energy projects. |
The Green Municipal Fund's Community Efficiency Financing $300 million initiative supports Indigenous communities and municipalities to create, launch and expand home energy upgrade financing programs for low-rise energy projects. GMF provides additional support for studies, pilot, retrofit, and new build capital projects. |
Native Women Association of Canada (NWAC) and Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) have teamed up to create a Toolkit focusing on the climate change impacts on Indigenous communities, particularly women, girls, two-spirit, and gender-diverse people. The toolkit covers funding, biodiversity, food security, passing on traditional knowledge and managing climate disasters. It also shares examples of how Indigenous communities innovate to tackle climate change. |
This case study showcases and celebrates the innovative approach and impact of the Nk'e?xép Management Committee in the Nicola Watershed. Key learning is outlined in the partnerships among local partners working toward co-governance and collaboration for mitigation prevention and place-based drought management grounded in Indigenous and Western Knowledge. |
Snow and Water bulletins provide essential information for projected conditions for snowpack, which impact the water table of the BC. As well as projected outcomes for future drought conditions. |
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