Help shape the Ktunaxa Nation Legacy Trust

Help shape the Ktunaxa Nation Legacy Trust

November, 2024

The Ktunaxa Nation Council Society invites qualified Ktunaxanin̓tik to join an ad hoc committee to help develop the Ktunaxa Nation Legacy Trust.

The committee will explore options and make recommendations to the leadership of the four Ktunaxa First Nations.

Details

The committee will remain active until its work is done, with varying time commitments.

Members will be compensated at Ktunaxa Nation Council committee rates.

We’re seeking:

Four appointments total…

• 1 citizen-at-large
• 1 alternate citizen-at-large
• 1 youth (age 15-24)
• 1 alternate youth (15-24)

Qualifications

• Basic financial literacy and knowledge of trusts
• Previous board or committee experience
• Strong reasoning, critical thinking and collaboration skills
• Ethics, integrity and respect for confidentiality

To apply, visit the form HERE.

Or email David (dot) Deschamps@ktunaxa.org

Download (PDF, 1.66MB)

Columbia River Treaty: Stay on track, even if it’s a fast track

November 18: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ʔakisk̓aqǂiʔit (Cranbrook, B.C.):

The Ktunaxa Nation is steadfast in its commitment to ensuring Ktunaxa rights and interests are recognized and protected in the still-to-be finalized Columbia River Treaty.

There have been recent reports that Canada and the United States might fast-track negotiations to conclude an updated treaty by January 2025.

In light of these reports, Ktunaxa Nation Chair Kathryn Teneese emphasized the importance of keeping things on track.

“The Agreement in Principle announced this past summer represents a monumental accomplishment for all negotiating parties in this treaty. It was achieved with significant input from Ktunaxa, and it is vital that any rush to finalize the treaty does not compromise parts of the AIP that address our rights and interests, and that incorporate Indigenous cultural values and ecosystem health.”

The Ktunaxa Nation recognizes the critical importance of reliable power and protecting downstream communities in Canada and the US from flooding but underscores the necessity of reconciling historical and ongoing impacts of the treaty.

“Our negotiations with Canada and British Columbia have been focused on addressing these impacts,” said Chair Teneese. “We expect our rights and interests to be negotiated in both the updated treaty and domestic agreements to ensure the long-term well-being of our people and territory. The two processes must move forward together.”

During the 2024 Columbia River Governance and Ethics Symposium, Ktunaxa representative Troy Hunter reflected on the potential return of salmon to the Columbia River as part of renewed treaty discussions. “Hearing that salmon restoration is being addressed makes my heart happy,” said Hunter. “It has been 86 years since the Ktunaxa have been able to harvest salmon in our territory, and their return is vital for both our culture and ecology.”

“The Ktunaxa Nation will continue to work collaboratively with Canada and British Columbia to ensure that our voices are central to these processes,” Teneese said.

-END-

Ktunaxa Nation Press Release: CRT Agreement in Principle, more information available

Press contact
news@ktunaxa.org

Contest: Win two tickets to Bear Grease, Nov. 16 2024

Candidates Forum Kootenay Rockies

ǂkamnintik q̓api hak̓amxuni·qaʔni Every child matters.

Ktunaxa Literacy Day 2025 Celebrate 30 years with us!

Ktunaxa Literacy Day — 30th Anniversary!

Open to all Ktunaxanin̓tik.

October 23 to 25, 2024
Kwataqnuk Casino and Resort, Polson, Montana.

The way to register:
Visit the EventBrite page and register there –>
https://www.eventbrite.ca/…/ktunaxa-literacy-day-event…

To guarantee hotel and meals, you MUST
register by October 4, 2024.

Please join us for 3-days of celebrating Ktunaxa literacy through storytelling, workshops, and interactive activities in K̓upaquⱡaqpiʔk 2024!

Additional questions about event details?
brett.capilo@ktunaxa.org

 

Groundbreaking of Seven Nations Soaring Eagle Treatment Centre

Groundbreaking of Seven Nations Soaring Eagle Treatment Centre: Toward Healing and Wellness

September 18, 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

yaqan nuʔkiy (Creston, B.C.):
A significant milestone was reached this week with the groundbreaking ceremony of the Seven Nations Soaring Eagle Treatment Centre, a culturally rooted facility designed to help Indigenous communities, and the broader region, heal from the impacts of addiction and trauma.

The treatment centre, located in a peaceful spot in the Creston Valley owned by Lower Kootenay Band, is the result of collaboration between the Ktunaxa Nation, yaqan nuʔkiy (Lower Kootenay Band), the First Nations Health Authority, and Indigenous Services Canada, among other partners.

The project has faced numerous challenges, including delays caused by COVID-19 and rising material costs, but is now on track for opening in 2026. It will offer trauma-informed programs and services that integrate Ktunaxa culture, traditions, and land-based teachings to support holistic healing.

“This project has been years in the making, and we couldn’t be more relieved to have finally broken ground,” said Debbie Whitehead, Special Advisor, Ktunaxa Nation Council. “The design of this centre is rooted in healing, not just through the programs and curriculum, but also in the building itself. We’re not only creating a treatment facility, we’re creating a space where people can heal from the deep wounds of colonization and trauma. This is about supporting families and future generations.”

Jason Louie, nasuʔkin (Chief) of the Lower Kootenay Band, emphasized the personal and community impact of the centre. “This was a team effort—almost a decade to get here. Most people would have given up, but we are not most people. We believed in this dream. It’s bittersweet because, over these nine years, we have lost many young people to alcohol and overdose. We honour their memory today as we move forward with this project.”

As British Columbia continues to grapple with the toxic drug crisis, Indigenous communities have been disproportionately affected. Since the Province declared a public health emergency in 2016, over 12,000 people have died from drug overdoses, with First Nations individuals dying at a rate nearly six times higher than other residents. The crisis has placed a spotlight on the urgent need for culturally appropriate treatment options.

Mary McCullough, Executive Director for the Interior Region of the First Nations Health Authority, shared her reflections on the importance of culturally rooted care. “This treatment centre promotes healing through traditional approaches that reconnect individuals to their culture, which is vital for addressing the complex trauma driving substance use. The legacy of the late Mary Basil, who inspired this project, reminds us that healing is a journey, and this centre is a step in the right direction.”

Jared Basil, a member of the Lower Kootenay Band and grandson of the late Mary Basil, highlighted the generational impact of the project. “This is a momentous day for our people. My grandmother was the first in our community to achieve sobriety, and her vision for strong, healthy Ktunaxa citizens is what drives us today. Projects like this give us the opportunity to unify, define, and articulate what health and wellness means to us as Indigenous people.”

The centre’s construction will continue over the next few years, with a focus on preparing the operational framework to ensure a smooth opening once the facility is complete. As the toxic drug crisis persists, the Seven Nations Soaring Eagle Treatment Centre represents hope for a brighter future and a culturally grounded path to recovery for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people alike.

Read the First Nations Health Authority story HERE

AGA 2024: 7 Nations Soaring Eagle Treatment Centre Society

7 Nations Soaring Eagle Treatment Centre Society

2024 Annual General Meeting

• October 9, 2024 (Wednesday)
• 11 am to 12:30 pm (Creston Time)
• yaqan nuʔkiy Wilfred Jacobs Admin Building

Attend in person or join online via Teams.

Map to location -> https://www.google.com/maps/search/49.066131,+-116.512433?shorturl=1

Link to online meeting -> Join conversation (microsoft.com)

Agenda:

• Update on Groundbreaking Ceremony
• Funding and Construction Update
• Head Lease
• Operational Negotiations with FNHA
• Administration Update
• Society Monthly Board Meetings

Door prizes!

Questions?

Debbie Whitehead: 250-417-7405

dwhitehead@ktunaxa.org

Columbia River Treaty: Agreement in Principle, more information available

 

CRT-AIP-Canada-public-description-Final_2024Aug30.pdf (gov.bc.ca)

CRT Agreement-in-Principle, more information available

Ktunaxa Nation Advocates for Ecosystem Health and Indigenous Values in Columbia River Treaty Negotiations

The Ktunaxa Nation, alongside the Syilx Okanagan and Secwépemc Nations, has played a key role in shaping the recently announced Agreement in Principle (AIP) for the modernized Columbia River Treaty (CRT).

Read the full story HERE.

AIP: Video and Documentation

Representatives of these nations, along with the Province of B.C. and Government of Canada, released an explainer video about the work so far on modernizing the CRT, and outlined some key points about the agreement in principle.

In the video, Jaime Vienneau and Troy Hunter outline some of the issues the Ktunaxa Nation brought to the table.

What is new about the AIP?

The AIP introduces new ecological provisions that, for the first time, incorporate Indigenous cultural values and ecosystem health as core components of the treaty. These provisions are essential to supporting the health of the Columbia River system, from its headwaters to the Pacific Ocean.

Water Resources

Central to the AIP is the flexibility to manage water resources, with up to 5 million acre-feet allocated annually to support ecosystem and cultural needs. This water will help restore wetlands, improve river flow for salmon migration, and address the impacts of climate change. The reintroduction of salmon to the Upper Columbia River is a critical priority for the Ktunaxa Nation, as salmon have been absent from the region for over 80 years.

Indigenous-led Governance Body

The AIP also establishes a new Indigenous-led governance body, which will oversee research and make recommendations on treaty operations. This body will ensure that Indigenous cultural values and traditional knowledge are integrated with modern science to support the river’s long-term health.

Kootenay Transboundary Working Group

Additionally, the Kootenay Transboundary Working Group will address the impacts of the Libby Dam on Ktunaxa communities and the broader ecosystem. The group will provide the Ktunaxa Nation with a meaningful voice in decisions regarding dam operations and flood management.

The Ktunaxa Nation continues to work toward securing a modernized Columbia River Treaty that reflects our rights, respects our cultural values, and ensures benefit-sharing.

Ongoing negotiations with Canada, British Columbia, and the United States will be critical to finalizing the treaty.

Ktunaxa Nation Council Hosts Overdose Awareness Day Event: “Together We Can”

 

 

 

 

Event Details

Date: Saturday, August 31, 2024

Time: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Location: Rotary Park, Cranbrook, B.C.

Free BBQ and refreshments for attendees

 

August 28, 2024: For Immediate Release

Ktunaxa Nation Council to Host Overdose Awareness Day Event: “Together We Can”

ʔa·kisk̓aqǂiʔit Cranbrook, B.C. – On Saturday, August 31, Cranbrook is invited to join the global community in observing International Overdose Awareness Day 2024 with a special event at Rotary Park from 11 AM to 1 PM.

The event, themed “Together We Can,” aims to bring together the people of Cranbrook and the East Kootenay region in a collective effort to raise awareness and offer hope in the face of the overdose crisis.

“This week serves as a pivotal opportunity to educate the Ktunaxa Nation Council staff and public about the signs of an overdose, the importance of naloxone as a life-saving medication and the need for increased access to harm reduction and services by sharing knowledge on how to recognize and respond to an overdose,” said Debbie Whitehead, Special Advisor to the Ktunaxa Nation Council.

“The Ktunaxa Nation Council, alongside our healthcare partners, has been responding to the overdose crisis through harm reduction, community outreach and advocacy—in the midst of our grief,” she said.

Attendees will have the opportunity to connect with others in their community, learn about resources and services, take naloxone training, and stand in solidarity with those affected by overdose. The event will feature a free BBQ and refreshments, creating a welcoming space for dialogue and support.

“The Ktunaxa Nation Council, alongside our healthcare partners, has been responding to the overdose crisis through harm reduction, community outreach, and advocacy, in the midst of our grief,” said Whitehead.

“The overdose crisis has touched every corner of our communities. It affects people from all walks of life, and no one should face this alone.”

To that goal, she said Ktunaxa Nation Council is developing a strategic action plan to respond to the opioid crisis and continues to provide services to those affected.

“We try to meet people where they are at,” Whitehead said. “Our staff provides essential services at the Complex Care house, through Operation Street Angel, and via roving outreach workers. As a next step, we connect people to counseling and Opioid Agonist Therapies through our health services. We support individuals through detox and treatment applications and help them access funding for treatment.”

Whitehead values the collaborations that Ktunaxa Nation maintains with Interior Health, First Nations Health Authority, the Province of B.C., and local community partners such as Ankors and the RCMP, which is leading to a more coordinated response to the crisis.

“The toxic drug supply is fueled by criminal networks who don’t care about people,” Whitehead said. “But we care. These are our family members, our loved ones, our neighbours, our kin. Our communities are disproportionately affected by the crisis, but it touches everyone.”

Whitehead said the theme, ‘Together We Can,’ is a reminder that uniting efforts is the most effective way to save lives. “Together means everyone,” she said, “without stigma.”

International Overdose Awareness Day is the world’s largest annual campaign to end overdose, remember without stigma those who have died, and acknowledge the grief of the family and friends left behind.

Residents of Cranbrook and the surrounding areas are encouraged to attend the event, connect with their community, and join the global movement to end overdose.

About International Overdose Awareness Day: #TogetherWeCan #EndOverdose #IOAD2024
International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) is a global event held on August 31st each year. It aims to raise awareness of overdose, reduce the stigma of drug-related deaths, and acknowledge the grief felt by families and friends. IOAD spreads the message that the tragedy of overdose death is preventable. For more information, visit www.overdoseday.com

 

 

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