Columbia River Treaty Must Address Climate Change and First Nations' Needs

A public workshop on the future of the Columbia River Treaty held in Osoyoos has found that the Treaty must be modified to meet the needs of First Nations, growing population numbers, increasing competition for water; fisheries health and environmental values, as well as negative impacts on Canadian agriculture and the impact of a changing climate.

Organized by the Canadian Water Resource Association (CWRA) and the Adaptation to Climate Change Team (ACT), the workshop took place on Wednesday, October 7th at the Sonora Centre.

The event incorporated a variety of featured presentations from local and provincial government, First Nations, and academia.

Grand Chief of the Okanagan Nation and President of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, Stewart Phillip, called for a renegotiation of the aging Treaty to ensure First Nations’ participation, and ultimately, consent in future negotiations.

“In the face of the devastation of climate change, it is crucial for the sake of our grandchildren and their grandchildren that the eco-system, including ensuring salmon passage to the Upper Columbia, become central to any new Treaty,” added Phillip.