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.
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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