2024 AGA Door Prize Winners
Ktunaxa Nation Council demands a halt of commercial plant harvesting by a Saskatchewan-based business
Soil disturbance from commercial harvesting of plants in ɁamakɁis Ktunaxa.
Debris left by commercial harvesters.
July 29, 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Cranbrook, B.C. — The Ktunaxa Nation Council (KNC) has issued a cease-and-desist letter to a Saskatchewan-based business which retails in herbs, teas, and traditional medicines.
The letter demands an immediate halt to the commercial harvesting of cultural medicine plants within the traditional homelands of the Ktunaxa Nation.
There was no prior request to, nor permission granted by, the KNC for the activities, which include soil disturbance to remove the plant by its roots. Such activities not only reduce plant populations but can introduce invasive species from other territories.
“The plant being removed is a vital cultural medicine used by the Ktunaxa people since time immemorial and is crucial for the health and well-being of Ktunaxa communities,” said Kathryn Teneese, Ktunaxa Nation Council Chair. “The effects from harvesting our ʔa·knusti (guardians) observed and documented raise concerns for Ktunaxa Elders and staff that this sensitive ethno-botanical plant may be harmed.”
KNC staff contacted the company’s owner to express these concerns, but the owner did not commit to halting the activities.
“We have an obligation to care for and steward our unceded territory,” said Teneese. “Any resource extraction without the required consultation or consent of the Ktunaxa is considered culturally insensitive and disrespectful to our Nation. Intensive commercial harvesting of cultural medicine plants is strictly forbidden.”
“We have tried to resolve this with the company but, as far as we know, they are not respecting our directive as stewards of our territory.”
The KNC will report any potential infractions to the local Natural Resource Officers and their respective compliance and enforcement branches and request an investigation into these practices. KNC staff also noted concerns about the debris and waste left around the company’s trailer.
“The harvesting of traditional medicinal and cultural plants for commercial purposes must be conducted with our Nation’s permission,” Teneese said. “We respectfully request that the company and their workers cease and desist immediately. Our stewardship of natural resources within our territory must be respected.
“We expect Indigenous-owned businesses to be a leader in respecting our rights.”
The Ktunaxa Nation Council remains committed to protecting and preserving the natural resources within their traditional homelands and will continue to advocate for the proper stewardship and respect of these lands and resources.
Any commercial operators wanting to harvest plants in the area should first send a request to referrals@ktunaxa.org.
–30–
(Temporary) Media Contact:
Adam Nicholas
Core Services Director, Ktunaxa Nation Council
adam.nicholas@ktunaxa.org
Ktunaxa Nation Council 2024 Annual Report
Please click on the icon in the top right of the file to view the report.
Day 2 of AGA is Postponed; Finance Report will be presented via Zoom on July 31, 2024
July 19, 2024
In the interests of remaining accountable to Ktunaxa Citizens,
a Zoom presentation of the Financial Report will be held on July 31, 2024 from 1pm – 3pm (MDT).
The Financial Report presentation will also be included on the agenda for the rescheduled AGA date.
This presentation is open only to Ktunaxa Nation members and staff of the Ktunaxa First Nations & Ktunaxa Nation Council.
To confirm the identity of those attending the Zoom presentation, we ask you to register as indicated below.
Details
- 1 pm to 3pm pm on Wednesday, July 31, 2024
- This is a Zoom meeting format with a Q&A period
- Email Registration is required
How to register:
- 1. Email
à Send an email to crystal.phillips@ktunaxa.org
Include your First Name, Last Name, Email Address, and Affiliation.
- 2. Verification
We will verify your details and email you a Zoom Invitation to register.
- 3. Zoom Registration
Register with Zoom using the same information.
Zoom will send you the meeting link and passcode.
For those who have already registered with aga@ktunaxa.org, you do not need to re-register,
and you will be emailed a Zoom Invitation to Register closer to the meeting date.
Thank you for your understanding at this time.
July 18, 2024
8:30 am
Please note:
There is currently a mass power outage across the Columbia Valley.
With the uncertainty of the time of re-energization from BC Hydro,
Day 2 of the AGA is postponed until further notice.
There are safety precautions that need to be followed after long outages,
and we need to give AFN staff and Contractors the appropriate time and space
to make sure the space is OK for hosting another day at full capacity.
This decision was a difficult one and we look forward to concluding the AGA when safe to do so.
Please watch emails, social media, text, and calls for updates on the situation.
Thank you.
The KNC and AFN Core Services Teams
Ktunaxa Nation celebrates milestone in Columbia River Treaty modernization
Ktunaxa Nation celebrates milestone
in Columbia River Treaty modernization
Agreement in Principle announced
July 11, 2024: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ʔa·kisk̓aqǂiʔit Cranbrook, B.C. – The Ktunaxa Nation Council is proud to announce a significant milestone in the modernization of the Columbia River Treaty, as the Government of Canada and the United States have reached an agreement-in-principle (AIP).
The Ktunaxa have been instrumental in shaping Canada’s priorities and negotiating positions for the AIP.
The Secwépemc and Syilx Okanagan Nations have also been important Indigenous Nation partners in the negotiations.
“This milestone represents years of hard work and dedication by our Nations, and ensures we have a voice at the table to protect the future of our homelands,” said Kathryn Teneese, Ktunaxa Nation Chair.
“We have worked hard to see concerns over the environment, Ktunaxa cultural values, stream flows, and salmon restoration represented in the Treaty negotiations, and we are committed to continuing that work as a new treaty is drafted.”
These principles are vital in integrating ecosystem health and Indigenous cultural values into a modernized treaty, and restoring salmon to the B.C. portion of the Columbia Basin.
“We are also working with B.C. and Canada to make sure the huge impacts of the Columbia River Treaty dams to our people are recognized and addressed,” Teneese said. “The Ktunaxa Nation has communities on both sides of the border and we share a sacred duty to protect ‘ʔa·kxam̓is q̓api qapsin’ (all living things).”
For decades, the Columbia River Treaty has been crucial in reducing flood damage and providing clean energy to populations in both Canada and the United States.
The modernized treaty will continue this legacy, ensuring pre-planned flood control and continued cooperation on hydropower. Additionally, it will incorporate new provisions for dam operations, ecosystem health, restoring salmon populations, Indigenous cultural values, adaptive management and other values.
The AIP supports a renewed approach to sharing benefits between countries. It allows B.C. to continue receiving a share of the additional hydroelectric power potential in the U.S., includes newly negotiated access to U.S. transmission infrastructure, and provides annual indexed compensation from the U.S. for a reduced volume of reservoir space for flood-risk management and other benefits the U.S. receives.
Since negotiations to modernize the treaty began in May 2018, 19 formal rounds of negotiations have taken place. Ktunaxa have participated in these rounds, and have provided expertise and input.
“We look forward to continuing to work towards a forthcoming, renewed Columbia River Treaty in which Ktunaxa are included within its terms to our satisfaction, as well as other agreements to address our Nation’s title and rights, before we are able to consider providing our free, prior, and informed consent,” Teneese said.
–30–
Background Information:
The Columbia River Treaty is a transboundary water-management agreement between Canada and the United States, ratified in 1964, optimizing flood-risk management and power generation.
The treaty required Canada to build three dams in B.C. and allowed the U.S. to build a fourth dam, the Libby Dam, which flooded into Canada.
Although international treaties are within federal jurisdiction, the 1963 Canada-British Columbia Agreement transferred most treaty rights and obligations to the Province of B.C. This requires the Province’s agreement before terminating or amending the treaty.
Revenue from the treaty has contributed to funding government functions such as health care, education, and infrastructure.
The treaty has no end date, but either country can unilaterally terminate it from September 2024 onward with at least 10 years’ notice.
Since negotiations to modernize the treaty began in May 2018, 19 formal rounds of negotiations have taken place. Ktunaxa have participated in these rounds, and have provided expertise and input.
Ktunaxa leadership provided a mandate to guide Ktunaxa Nation participation in this work in 2014, and renewed that mandate in 2021. The mandate principles are:
- Ktunaxa continues to exercise their stewardship responsibility for water through the CRT 2014-2024 negotiation process.
- Ktunaxa participation in CRT decision-making
- Protection of Ktunaxa Aboriginal rights
- Restoration of salmon to the Upper Columbia
- Protection of cultural heritage resources
- Ecosystem management
- Libby/Koocanusa co-management
- Redress of historic and ongoing impacts of CRT dams,
transmission lines, other infrastructure and operations - Ktunaxa participation in economic benefits
- Climate change analysis and consideration
BC Statement on the AIP: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2024EMLI0041-001094
Canada Statement on the AIP: https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/statements/2024/07/11/statement-prime-minister-agreement-principle-reached-between-canada-and
US Statement on the AIP: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/07/11/statement-by-president-joe-biden-on-reaching-an-agreement-in-principle-on-modernization-of-the-columbia-river-treaty-regime/
====Media Contact====
Trish Barnes
trish.barnes@ktunaxa.org
Ktunaxa Nation Council
Public Relations Coordinator
Help us Bring the Salmon Home
Help us Bring the Salmon Home
The Ktunaxa, Syilx Okanagan and Secwépemc Nations are calling on the B.C. and federal governments to commit to core funding to support the Bringing the Salmon Home Initiative for generations to come.
Please show the governments you support them helping bring the salmon home…
KNC AGA Ball Game
