NEW: The BCAFN Climate Change and Water Community Leadership Initiative Share your work! What is it? BCAFN's Climate Change & Water Community Leadership Initiative aims to help First Nations with their climate and water leadership through facilitating information sharing within communities. We invite First Nations to share their own unique stories about climate change and water-related work, including but not limited to land and water management, forestry, water security, food sovereignty, energy efficiency and clean energy, Indigenous rights, energy management and response, Indigenous knowledge and First Nations laws. All accepted submissions will be featured one at a time in BCAFN's Climate Change and Water Newsletters. The winning applicant(s) will be given an honorarium to further support their work: $150 will be awarded to the writer and $600 will be awarded towards the First Nations community. How can I participate? Entries should be between 200 to 300 words, provided with relevant photos, if possible. Please send your submissions to sophia.iliopulos@bcafn.ca. |
The month of March marks the national month of Water Action. The month of Water Action stands as a mere reminder that with life must come water, meaning that each and every day is a day to protect the water and ensure all beings' right to water. Watch BCAFN's 'Honouring our Waters on World Water Day' video below, featuring Kukpi7 Judy Wilson and her mother, Elder Minnie Kenoras, leading a water ceremony on unceded xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Territories in honour of World Water Day on March 22, 2022. |
Kukpi7 Judy Wilson, AFN National Chief RoseAnne Archibald, Elder Minnie Kenoras, and Joann Buffalo at the water ceremony. Photo credit to BC Assembly of First Nations' "Honouring our Waters on Water Day". |
This year's World Water Day is dedicated to groundwater, and the theme is making the invisible visible. It balances us as humans, it balances our Earth, and it creates life for us. And so, women doing water ceremonies is very important to acknowledge the role that women have in caring water, in giving life, and in doing these ceremonies. - AFN National Chief RoseAnne Archibald Water is more precious than oil. Water has to have that respect, and it can't be just legislated or policied. - Kukpi7 Judy Wilson |
Where the Land Meets the Water: The ʔElhdaqox Dechen Ts’edilhtan (“The Sturgeon River Law”) of the ʔEsdilagh First Nation |
The Fraser River. Photo credit to the Tsilhqot'in National Government |
Where the Land meets the Water. This is the meaning behind “ʔEsdilagh'" of the ʔEsdilagh First Nation, one of the Peoples of the Tŝilhqot’in Nation. Since time immemorial, they have lived along the mountainous ranges encircling the ʔElhdaqox, also known as the Sturgeon River or Fraser River, ensuring the sustenance of their reciprocal relationship with their ancestral nen (lands) and tu (waters). Colonial institutions and systems have and continue to violate the wellbeing of the Tŝilhqot’in Nation’s ancestral nen and tu. On May 27, 2020, the ʔEsdilagh First Nation and the Tŝilhqot’in Council of Chiefs adopted and enacted the ʔElhdaqox Dechen Ts’edilhtan - a law protecting the ʔElhdaqox and the inherent and constitutional rights of the Tŝilhqot’in Nation. Crown governments, industries, private investors, and every individual must recognize and respect First Nations’ customary laws as a part of their reconciliation commitments. By implementing and enforcing their own laws, First Nations are able to enhance their nationhood and achieve self-determination. The ʔElhdaqox Dechen Ts’edilhtan is a historical step forward in aligning the stewardship and management of the ʔElhdaqox under the inherent governance, teachings, and values of the Tŝilhqot’in Nation–a Nation whose identity and livelihood are strongly bound to the life and preservation of the ʔElhdaqox. Together, the Nation strives to protect the nen, the tu, and all of the living things it gives life and support to–including the ʔEhldachugh (sturgeon), Ts’eman (sockeye salmon), Jaŝ (chinook salmon), Lhu ŝilh ch’il (whitefish), Sabay (bull trout), Tislagh (steelhead trout), Tŝintil (burbot), Dandzex (coho salmon), and Jaŝ lant’eh (pink salmon). |
The ʔEsdilagh First Nation (Alexandria First Nation) held a signing ceremony to ratify its new ʔElhdaqox Dechen Ts’edilhtan (“Sturgeon River Law”). Photo credit to the Tsilhqot'in National Government. |
An excerpt from the ʔElhdaqox Dechen Ts’edilhtan: “Our Nation’ relationships to our territory make us who we are; The River People. These relationships define us as a Nation and highlight our protection and stewardship responsibilities that are grounded in our inherent and self-government rights. The tu (“waters”) in our territory, including ʔElhdaqox, are vital to our Nation. We cannot survive without them. The tu that our babies are carried in in the womb is sacred and is a direct connection to the tu in our landscape which continues to give us life after we are born. It is therefore critical we express this dechen ts’edilhtan in written form to protect the tu within our territory for our children, grandchildren and the generations to come.” |
FNLC Water Rights Pre-Engagement Session First Nations Leadership Council | April 27, 2022 at 9 AM PT via Zoom The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) will be hosting a pre-engagement for the upcoming amendments and update of the FNLC First Nations Water Rights Strategy. The purpose of the First Nations Water Rights Strategy amendments is to modernize a collective First Nations strategy on water-related issues and priorities. These events are open to First Nations Chiefs, leadership, experts, technicians, and community members are welcome to attend these upcoming events. ? For more information, contact sophia.iliopulos@bcafn.ca. Register here. |
BCAFN Dialogue on First Nations Land-Based Carbon Offsets BC Assembly of First Nations | April 19, 2022 at 1 PM PT via Zoom BCAFN is pleased to invite First Nations leadership, technicians, and community members to a virtual open discussion about the benefits, limitations, opportunities, and challenges of community-led land-based carbon offsets projects. ? For more information, contact patricia.rojas@bcafn.ca. Register here. |
FNMPC 5th Annual IEE Conference: Toward Net Zero by 2050 First Nations Major Projects Coalition | Conference Date: April 25 to 26, 2022 The First Nations Major Projects Coalition is hosting their 5th annual industry engagement event. The event will host Indigenous leaders, experts, policy makers, and investors across Canada to highlight carbon reducing examples in energy generation and transmission, minerals and materials, finance, and policy and regulation. Virtual attendance for the two-day event is free for non-FNMPC Indigenous community members. ? Find more information here. Register here. |
Call for Proposals in National Tribal & Indigenous Climate Conference The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals | Conference Date: August 29, 2022 to September 1, 2022 (Hybrid) | Proposal Deadline: Friday, April 22, 2022 The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals invites you to submit proposals in one or more of the conference tracks to discuss climate-related impacts, assessments, tools, adaptation, mitigation, actions, and the intersection of western science and adaptation strategies with Traditional/Indigenous Knowledges. ? Find more information here. |
Indigenous Climate Funding Government of Canada | Deadlines: Vary The Indigenous Climate Funding page is a list of federal funding programs available to support Indigenous climate action. There are filters on the left of the tables to help narrow your search. ? Find available Indigenous Climate Funding here. |
CleanBC Communities Fund CleanBC | Application Period: January 26, 2022 to May 25, 2022 The CleanBC Communities Fund provides provincial and federal funding for community infrastructure projects that reduce reliance on fossil fuels. The fund is open to local governments, Indigenous governments, not-for-profit organizations working in collaboration with Indigenous or local governments, and for-profit organizations working in collaboration with Indigenous or local governments. ? Find more information here. |
CleanBC Communities Fund Webinar Recordings ? Introductory Webinar: Learn more about the CleanBC Communities Fund program eligibility, objectives, application requirements, and tips from program staff and previously successful applicants. ? GHG Methodology Webinar: Gain a deeper understanding of the greenhouse gas (GHG) assessment process and evaluation criteria, learn about best practices for generating baseline and project emissions scenarios. ? Innovation and Resilience Webinar: Learn how you can integrate innovation and climate resilience into your CleanBC Communities Fund application submission. |
Are you interested in sharing an event, opportunity, or resource for our BCAFN Climate Change & Water Newsletter? |
For climate change-related submissions: Please contact Patricia Rojas, BCAFN Regional Climate Coordinator at patricia.rojas@bcafn.ca For water-related submissions: Please contact Sophia Iliopulos, BCAFN Regional Water Coordinator at sophia.iliopulos@bcafn.ca |
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