Front Matter

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Front Matter University of Calgary PRISM: University of Calgary's Digital Repository University of Calgary Press University of Calgary Press Open Access Books 2018-05 Water Rites: Reimagining Water in the West University of Calgary Press Ellis, J. (Ed.). (2018). Water Rites: Reimagining Water in the West. Calgary, AB: University of Calgary Press. http://hdl.handle.net/1880/107767 book https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0 Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives 4.0 International Downloaded from PRISM: https://prism.ucalgary.ca WATER RITES: Reimagining Water in the West Edited by Jim Ellis ISBN 978-1-55238-998-0 THIS BOOK IS AN OPEN ACCESS E-BOOK. It is an electronic version of a book that can be purchased in physical form through any bookseller or on-line retailer, or from our distributors. Please support this open access publication by requesting that your university purchase a print copy of this book, or by purchasing a copy yourself. If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected] Cover Art: The artwork on the cover of this book is not open access and falls under traditional copyright provisions; it cannot be reproduced in any way without written permission of the artists and their agents. The cover can be displayed as a complete cover image for the purposes of publicizing this work, but the artwork cannot be extracted from the context of the cover of this specific work without breaching the artist’s copyright. COPYRIGHT NOTICE: This open-access work is published under a Creative Commons licence. This means that you are free to copy, distribute, display or perform the work as long as you clearly attribute the work to its authors and publisher, that you do not use this work for any commercial gain in any form, and that you in no way alter, transform, or build on the work outside of its use in normal academic scholarship without our express permission. If you want to reuse or distribute the work, you must inform its new audience of the licence terms of this work. For more information, see details of the Creative Commons licence at: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ UNDER THE CREATIVE UNDER THE CREATIVE COMMONS LICENCE YOU COMMONS LICENCE YOU MAY NOT: MAY: • gain financially from the work in any way; • read and store this • sell the work or seek monies in relation to the distribution document free of charge; of the work; • distribute it for personal • use the work in any commercial activity of any kind; use free of charge; • profit a third party indirectly via use or distribution of • print sections of the work the work; for personal use; • distribute in or through a commercial body (with • read or perform parts of the exception of academic usage within educational the work in a context where institutions such as schools and universities); no financial transactions • reproduce, distribute, or store the cover image outside take place. of its function as a cover of this work; • alter or build on the work outside of normal academic scholarship. Acknowledgement: We acknowledge the wording around open access used by Australian publisher, re.press, and thank them for giving us permission to adapt their wording to our policy http://www.re-press.org WaterCoverPRINT.qxp_LayoutWaterCoverPRINT.qxp_LayoutWaterCoverPRINT.qxp_Layout 1 1 2018-04-20 1 2018-04-20 2018-04-20 9:31 9:31 9:31 AM AM AM Page Page Page 1 1 1 ellis ellis ellis water rites rites water water rites waterwaterwaterritesritesrites reimaginingreimaginingreimagining water waterwater in inin the thethe west westwest WhatWhatWhat are areare the thethe challenges challengeschallenges we wewe face faceface around aroundaround water waterwater in inin Western WesternWestern Canada? Canada?Canada? reimagining in the west waterreimagining water inreimagining the water west in the west WhatWhatWhat are areare our ourour rights rightsrights to toto water? water?water? Does DoesDoes water waterwater itself itselfitself have havehave rights? rights?rights? ThisThisThis wide-ranging wide-rangingwide-ranging book bookbookdocumentsdocumentsdocuments the the the many many many ways ways ways that that that water water water flows flows flows through through through ourourour lives lives lives in in in Western Western Western Canada, Canada,Canada, connecting connectingconnecting the thethe humans, humans,humans, animals animalsanimals and andand plants plantsplants that thatthat allallall depend depend depend on on on this this this precious precious precious and and and endangered endangered endangered resource. resource. resource. EssaysEssaysEssays from from from scholars, scholars, scholars, Indigenous Indigenous Indigenous activists, activists,activists, environmentalists environmentalistsenvironmentalists and andand human humanhuman rights rightsrights advocatesadvocatesadvocates explore explore explore issues issues issues around arou aroundnd access a accessccess to to to clean clean clean drinking drinking drinking water, water, water, the the the competing competing competing demandsddemandsemands of of of the the the resource resource resource development development development industry industry industry and and andIndigenous Indigenous Indigenous communities, communities, communities, and and and thethethedwindling dwindling dwindling supply supply supply of of of fresh fresh fresh water water water in in in the the the face face face of of of human-caused human-caused human-caused climate climate climate change. change. change. thethethe calgary calgary calgary institute institute institute for for for the the the humanities humanities humanities StatementsStatementsStatements from from from community community community organizations organizations organizations detail detail detail some some some of of of the the the challenges challenges challenges facing facing facing ourourour watershed, watershed, watershed, and and and the the the actions actions actions they they they are are are taking taking taking to to to mitigate mitigate mitigate these these these problems. problems. problems. TheseTheseThese essays essays essays are are are complemented complemented complemented by by by full-colour full-colour full-colour portfoliosportfolios portfolios of of of work work work by by by contemporary contemporary contemporary painters,ppainters,ainters, photographers photographers photographers and and and installation installation installation artists artists artists who who who explore explore explore o ourur our re relation lationrelation to to to water. water. water. RReproductionseproductionsReproductions of of of historical historical historical paintings, paintings, paintings, engravings engravings engravings and and and film film film stills stills stills demonstrate demonstrate demonstrate how how how waterwaterwater has has has shaped shaped shaped our our our country’s country’s country’s cultural cultural cultural imaginary imaginary imaginary from from from its its its beginnings. beginnings. beginnings. Together Together Together thisthisthis collection collectioncollection shows showsshows how howhow water waterwater is isis both bothboth fundamental fundamentalfundamental to toto our ourour lives, lives,lives, and andand a aa vital vitalvital waterwaterwater ritesritesrites resourceresourceresource for for for our our our imagination. imagination. imagination. reimaginingreimaginingreimagining water water water in in in the the the west west west JimJimJim Ellis Ellis Ellisisisis Professor Professor Professor of of of English English English and and and Director Director Director of of of the the the Calgary Calgary Calgary InstituteInsInstitutetitute for for for the the the Humanities Humanities Humanities at at at the the the University University University of of of Calgary. Calgary. Calgary. HHeeHehas has has written written written widely widely widely on on on art, art, art, literature literature literature and and and film. film. film. editededitededited by by byjimjimjim ellis ellis ellis 978-1-55238-997-3978-1-55238-997-3 153434 C1C4 4C.indd 1 2018-04-20 1:52 PM water rites reimagining water in the west Calgary Institute for the Humanities Series Co-published with the Calgary Institute for the Humanities ISSN 2560 –6883 (Print) ISSN 2560 –6891 (Online) The humanities help us to understand who we are and where we came from; they help us to understand and respectfully engage with those who are different from us; and they encourage a curiosity and imagination that allows us to bring older ideas to the new worlds in which we find ourselves. Books in this series embody this spirit of inquiry. No. 1 Calgary: City of Animals , edited by Jim Ellis No. 2 Water Rites: Reimagining Water in the West , edited by Jim Ellis edited by jim ellis water rites reimagining water in the west a special publication of the university of calgary press in co-operation wit h the calgary institute for the humanities CALGARY INSTITUTE FOR THE HUMANITIES SERIES ISSN 2560 –6883 (Print) ISSN 2560 –6891 (Online) © 2018 Calgary Institute for the Humanities University of Calgary Press 2500 University Drive NW Calgary, Alberta Canada T2N 1N4 press.ucalgary.ca This book is available as an ebook which is licensed under a Creative Commons license. The publisher should be contacted for any commercial use which falls outside the terms of that license. Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication Water rites : reimagining water in the West / edited by Jim Ellis. (Calgary Institute for the Humanities series, ISSN 2560-6883, ISSN 2560-6891) "A special publication
Recommended publications
  • Centre and Library for the Bible and Social Justice, Stony Point, New York October 2016 Jennifer Henry I Want to Express My Grat
    1 Centre and Library for the Bible and Social Justice, Stony Point, New York October 2016 Jennifer Henry I want to express my gratitude to be welcomed by Chief Perry as a guest on these lands. I want to express my gratitude to be welcomed into this Stony Point community of faith and struggle. And, I bring greetings from KAIROS, the ecological justice and human rights organization of Canadian churches. My family came here, somewhere roughly around here, somewhere close to this part of Turtle Island, in the early 1600’s. It is no doubt that they, we, were collaborators, protagonists in 400 years of the horrible genocidal legacy of colonization. I strive to live accountable to that devastating reality. I work and serve churches, who are both those who participated in empires’ colonial horrors, like Indian residential schools, and those very same churches who strive to be places of community, repentance, solidarity and struggle—churches trying to be movements not monuments. We have to recognize that when I say I serve the churches I also mean the Indigenous church, Indigenous Christians who have lived a subversively, resiliently in the inbetween. I enter into any conversation aware of my marks of origin—white, settler, Christian, middle class—and the call that governs, my life, our work at KAIROS—do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with our God. Both my privilege and my aspirations to allyship are true. Today I am honoured to be asked to offer a window into the critical struggles in a Canadian context. It will be imperfect and limited, through my particular eyes, some but by no means all of what we struggle with as people of faith and justice in the Canadian context now.
    [Show full text]
  • Working Towards a Just Peace in the Middle East
    KAIROS Policy Briefing Papers are written to help inform public debate on key domestic and foreign policy issues No. 46 June 2016 Resistance to British Columbia’s Site C Dam Gaining Momentum By John Dillon, Ecological Economy Program Coordinator On June 10, 2016, KAIROS released an Open Letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and British Columbia Premier Christy Clark urging them to suspend construction of the Site C dam on the Peace River until Indigenous peoples’ rights have been respected and the B.C. Utilities Commission has conducted a thorough review.1 This Briefing Paper will explain why KAIROS and other civil society organizations are taking action on this issue. When the new federal cabinet was sworn in on of the Site C dam to proceed while the West Moberly November 4, 2015, the Prime Minister included this and the Prophet River First Nations are in court con- pledge in his mandate letters to every minister: “No testing the project constitutes a failure to uphold their relationship is more important to me and to Canada rights to free, prior and informed consent as set out in than the one with Indigenous Peoples. It is time for a the UN Declaration. renewed, nation-to-nation relationship with Indige- nous Peoples, based on recognition of rights, respect, The government’s refusal to reconsider the project co-operation, and partnership.”2 The sincerity of this also ignores the findings of a joint federal-provincial commitment is in doubt in light of his government’s review panel which identified 22 significant adverse failure to revisit the permits for the Site C project is- environmental effects, the largest number since the sued by former Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s gov- enactment of the Canadian Environmental Assessment ernment before last fall’s federal election.
    [Show full text]
  • THE POINT of NO RETURN the HUMAN RIGHTS of INDIGENOUS PEOPLES in CANADA THREATENED by the SITE C DAM All Rights Reserved
    THE POINT OF NO RETURN THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES IN CANADA THREATENED BY THE SITE C DAM All rights reserved. This publication is copyright, but may be reproduced by any method without fee for advocacy, campaigning and teaching purposes, but not for resale. The copyright holders request that all such use be registered with them for impact assessment purposes. For copying in any other circumstances, or for reuse in other publications, or for translation or adaptation, prior written permission must be obtained from the publishers, and a fee may be payable. To request permission, or for any other inquiries, please contact [email protected] © Amnesty International 2016 First published in 2016 Index: AMR 20/4281/2016 by Amnesty International Ltd Original language: English Peter Benenson House, 1 Easton Printed by Amnesty International, Street, London WC1X 0DW, UK International Secretariat, UK Cover Photo: Jason Dick and Dakota Kesick dance in traditional regalia overlooking the Peace and Moberly Rivers where the British Columbia public energy utility BC Hydro began construction of the Site C dam in 2015. © Little Inuk Photography amnesty.org 2 THE POINT OF NO RETURN: THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES IN CANADA THREATENED BY THE SITE C DAM © Garth Lenz THE POINT OF NO RETURN THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES IN CANADA THREATENED BY THE SITE C DAM The government of British Columbia ability of Indigenous peoples to carry out “ We’ve never said no (BC) is pushing ahead with construction crucial cultural and economic practices of a massive hydro-electric dam in the such as hunting and fishing.
    [Show full text]
  • THE POINT of NO RETURN the HUMAN RIGHTS of INDIGENOUS PEOPLES in CANADA THREATENED by the SITE C DAM All Rights Reserved
    THE POINT OF NO RETURN THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES IN CANADA THREATENED BY THE SITE C DAM All rights reserved. This publication is copyright, but may be reproduced by any method without fee for advocacy, campaigning and teaching purposes, but not for resale. The copyright holders request that all such use be registered with them for impact assessment purposes. For copying in any other circumstances, or for reuse in other publications, or for translation or adaptation, prior written permission must be obtained from the publishers, and a fee may be payable. To request permission, or for any other inquiries, please contact [email protected] © Amnesty International 2016 First published in 2016 Index: AMR 20/4281/2016 by Amnesty International Ltd Original language: English Peter Benenson House, 1 Easton Printed by Amnesty International, Street, London WC1X 0DW, UK International Secretariat, UK Cover Photo: Jason Dick and Dakota Kesick dance in traditional regalia overlooking the Peace and Moberly Rivers where the British Columbia public energy utility BC Hydro began construction of the Site C dam in 2015. © Little Inuk Photography amnesty.org 2 THE POINT OF NO RETURN: THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES IN CANADA THREATENED BY THE SITE C DAM © Garth Lenz THE POINT OF NO RETURN THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES IN CANADA THREATENED BY THE SITE C DAM The government of British Columbia ability of Indigenous peoples to carry out “ We’ve never said no (BC) is pushing ahead with construction crucial cultural and economic practices of a massive hydro-electric dam in the such as hunting and fshing.
    [Show full text]
  • THE POINT of NO RETURN All Rights Reserved
    TABLED DOCUMENT 119-18(3) TABLED ON MARCH 1, 2018 THE POINT OF NO RETURN All rights reserved. This publication is copyright, but may be reproduced by any method without fee for advocacy, campaigning and teaching purposes, but not for resale. The copyright holders request that all such use be registered with them for impact assessment purposes. For copying in any other circumstances, or for reuse in other publications, or for translation or adaptation, prior written permission must be obtained from the publishers, and a fee may be payable. To request permission, or for any other inquiries, please contact [email protected] ©Amnesty International 2016 First published in 2016 Index: AMR 20/428112016 by Amnesty International Ltd Original language: English Peter Benenson House, 1 Easton Printed by Amnesty International, Street, London WClX ODW, UK International Secretariat, UK Cover Photo: Jason Dick and Dakota Kesick dance in traditional regalia overlooking the Peace and Moberly Rivers where the British Columbia public energy utility BC Hydro began construction of the Site C dam in 2015. © Little lnuk Photography AMNESTY Jt amnesty.org INTERNATIONAL qf The government of British Columbia ability of Indigenous peoples to carry out "We've never said no (BC) is pushing ahead with construction crucial cultural and economic practices of a massive hydro-electric dam in the such as hunting and fishing. A group of to the production northeast of the province, despite vigorous Canadian academics who reviewed the opposition by Indigenous peoples who assessment concluded that the "number would be severely harmed by the loss of a and scope" of harms identified by the of energy.
    [Show full text]
  • Report Template
    OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND GENDER, INDIGENOUS RIGHTS, AND ENERGY DEVELOPMENT IN NORTHEAST BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA Amnesty International is a global movement of more than 7 million people who campaign for a world where human rights are enjoyed by all. Our vision is for every person to enjoy all the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights standards. We are independent of any government, political ideology, economic interest or religion and are funded mainly by our membership and public donations. © Amnesty International 2016 Except where otherwise noted, content in this document is licensed under a Creative Commons Cover photo: Close up of a woman’s headband, beaded by Saulteau First Nation artist Della Owens. (attribution, non-commercial, no derivatives, international 4.0) licence. Della told Amnesty International that, “traditionally, when someone wasn’t healthy and women got https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/legalcode together to bead, we’d say a prayer with each bead we sewed.” © Amnesty International For more information please visit the permissions page on our website: www.amnesty.org Where material is attributed to a copyright owner other than Amnesty International this material is not subject to the Creative Commons licence. First published in 2016 by Amnesty International Ltd Peter Benenson House, 1 Easton Street London WC1X 0DW, UK Index: AMR 20/4872/2016 Original language: English a mnesty.org CONTENTS 1. THE OBLIGATION TO PROTECT THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES 12 1.1 Warning signs ignored 16 1.2 A debt of justice 18 2.
    [Show full text]
  • Environmentalism in an Age of Reconciliation Exploring a New Context of Indigenous and Environmental NGO Relationships
    Environmentalism in an Age of Reconciliation Exploring a New Context of Indigenous and Environmental NGO Relationships by Charlie Gordon B.A., University of Victoria, 2014 A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in the School of Environmental Studies ©Charlie Gordon, 2018 University of Victoria We acknowledge with respect the Lekwungen-speaking peoples on whose traditional territory the university stands and the Songhees, Esquimalt and WSÁNEĆ peoples whose historical relationships with the land continue to this day. All rights reserved. This thesis may not be reproduced in whole or in part, by photocopy or other means, without the permission of the author. Environmentalism in an Age of Reconciliation Exploring a New Context of Indigenous and Environmental NGO Relationships by Charlie Gordon B.A., University of Victoria, 2014 Supervisory Committee Dr. James Rowe, Environmental Studies Supervisor Dr. Jeff Corntassel, Indigenous Studies Departmental Member ii Abstract Supervisory Committee Dr. James Rowe, Environmental Studies Supervisor Dr. Jeff Corntassel, Indigenous Studies Departmental Member As Canada’s courts recognize and redefine the scope of Aboriginal title and rights in the country, alliances between Indigenous communities and environmental groups are playing an increasingly central role in the fight to stop fossil fuel infrastructure projects and address the global threats of climate change. Recognizing the importance of relationships between environmental non-governmental organizations (ENGO) and Indigenous peoples to environmental campaigns in Canada, and the need to include land-politics into the national conversation of reconciliation, this research project aims to investigate the role of reconciliation efforts in environmental campaigns in BC.
    [Show full text]
  • Struggle to Protect Ancestral Lands Continues
    SEPTEMBER 2019 PEACE RIVER VALLEY: STRUGGLE TO PROTECT ANCESTRAL LANDS CONTINUES First Nations people of the Peace River Valley have been campaigning to Andrea Morison, PVEA © protect their ancestral lands from Site C, a proposed $10 billion dam project that would flood the valley. “We’ve never said no to the production of energy. We’ve said, let’s protect the valley. It’s the last piece of our backyard that’s relatively untouched,” said Chief Roland Willson of The Peace River Valley in northeastern British West Moberly First Nations. Columbia is a unique ecosystem that First Nations Last summer, the West Moberly First Nations was in court rely upon for hunting and fishing, gathering berries trying to get temporary limits placed on the construction of the Site C dam—at least until the court could determine and sacred medicine, and holding ceremonies. whether flooding the Peace River Valley would breach their Their ancestors are buried in this land. The proposed Constitutionally-protected Treaty rights. West Moberly First Nations’ request for an interim $10 billion Site C dam would flood more than 80 km injunction was vigorously opposed by the British Columbia of the river valley. The severe impact on Indigenous government and was ultimately rejected by the court over peoples is beyond dispute. A United Nations concerns about the financial cost. As a result, BC Hydro has plunged ahead with clearcut logging, road construction and human rights body has condemned the project. other activities in preparation for the eventual completion Craig Benjamin, Amnesty Canada’s Campaigner for of the dam.
    [Show full text]
  • Treaty 8 First Nations (T8fns) Community Assessment Team
    Treaty 8 First Nations (T8FNs) Community Assessment Team Telling a Story of Change the Dane-zaa Way A Baseline Community Profile of: -Doig River First Nation -Halfway River First Nation -Prophet River First Nation -West Moberly First Nations November 27, 2012 Submitted to BC Hydro as part of the Site C Environmental Assessment Treaty 8 First Nations Baseline Community Profile Report Telling a Story of Change the Dane-zaa Way: A Baseline Community Profile of Four Treaty 8 First Nations -Doig River First Nation -Halfway River First Nation -Prophet River First Nation -West Moberly First Nations Submitted by the Treaty 8 Environmental Assessment Team to BC Hydro for the Site C Environmental Assessment Disclaimer The information contained in this report is based on primary research conducted by The T8FNs Community Assessment Team in 2012, as well as information from published works and archival research. It reflects the understanding of the authors as generated within time and funding constraints, and is not a complete depiction of the dynamic and living system of use and knowledge maintained by T8FNs elders and members. The information contained herein should not be construed as to define, limit or otherwise constrain the Treaty and aboriginal rights of any of the above-listed First Nations or other First Nations or aboriginal peoples. Authored by: The Treaty 8 First Nations (T8FNs) Community Assessment Team and The Firelight Group Research Cooperative On behalf of: The Treaty 8 First Nations of Doig River, Halfway River, Prophet River and West Moberly Submitted to: BC Hydro November 27, 2012 i Treaty 8 First Nations Community Assessment Team November 27, 2012 Treaty 8 First Nations Baseline Community Profile Report Table of Contents PREAMBLE: A TRIP ALONG THE PEACE RIVER VALLEY .......................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Save Billions in Cost Overruns
    WHAT ABOUT THE WORKERS? There are currently approximately 5000 workers at the Site C Dam – all of which are trying to do their best supporting themselves and their families. Why not provide them with the chance to work on meaningful projects that actually benefit communities? There will continue to be lots of work restoring the Peace River Valley if the project is cancelled, and the provincial government CANCEL could easily fund cheaper and greener energy projects immediately. Solar farms in Alberta are now being built for about $1 million per megawatt of SAVE BILLIONS IN COST OVERRUNS capacity, so we could equal the capacity of the Site C dam for as little as $1.1 billion, rather the endless billions we are currently faced with. And why stop at energy? There are 20 Indigenous communities in BC who don’t have safe drinking water. Let’s build suitable water treatment facilities. Let’s build and repair schools, hospitals, community centres, libraries, roads, and much more. The list of other useful SITE C projects that need workers is endless. KEEP PROMISES TO INDIGENOUS NATIONS DAM NOW! PROTECT THE PLANET, COMMUNITIES & WORKERS The Site C Dam has been a failed project since the 1970s when it was first proposed, opposed and subsequently shelved. The 60-metre- high hydroelectric dam would flood 100 square kilometres of the Peace River Valley in northern British Columbia. Brought back from the dead by the previous BC Liberal government as a power source for LNG fracking operations, and now spearheaded by the NDP provincial government, the megaproject is a worse idea every day.
    [Show full text]