By: Simona Rosenfield, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

N.W.T. (LJI) – Amid the Northwest Territories’ lowest water levels on record, hundreds of people gathered to discuss the future of clean, accessible water at the three-day Water Is Sacred conference.

N.W.T. Premier R.J. Simpson attended the conference, as did Indigenous leaders such as newly elected Dene National Chief George Mackenzie, Chief April Martel of host community the Kátł’odeeche First Nation, and Dehcho First Nations Grand Chief Herb Norwegian, according to conference organizer Jesse Cardinal.

The conference took place from August 1-3. Attendees were invited to panel discussions and presentations from chiefs, Elders and youth. Presenters came from across the N.W.T., B.C., Alberta and Saskatchewan to discuss the need to protect water and find solutions.

This summer, the North has seen some of its lowest water levels on record and Elders are sounding the alarm.

“We were there to gather evidence, to bear witness to what people are seeing in their communities, and to create action items moving forward,” said Cardinal. 

“It’s really an important time to bring everyone together, because there was definitely a common message that water levels are extremely low. There’s a concern for the water, there’s a concern for the livelihood, being able to get on the water.”

Dënesųłiné Elder François Paulette spoke as part of an Elders’ panel at the conference. Paulette believes the territory has reached the 11th hour on key issues that will affect watersheds long into the future, such as water pollution and human-made dams.

B.C. Hydro is nearing completion of the Site C dam, which Paulette says is a huge concern for N.W.T. residents already experiencing disruption to their watersheds as a result of industry like the oil sands located upriver.

“The other day, I felt very sad to an extent where I just felt emotional. I was told that in August, they’re going to start filling the reservoir on Site C,” said Paulette. 

“We are already losing a lot of water on the river systems. What are they going to look like next year and the year after?”

Hydrologists have said the cause of the N.W.T.’s current low water is extreme drought across western Canada.

Paulette is also concerned by industrial pollution of the water. 

The federal government has been exploring the possibility of releasing treated tailings water into river systems. While environment minister Steven Guilbeault has said that isn’t the only option, he told Cabin Radio last year: “The idea that we can keep accumulating toxic water in these open tailing ponds is unsustainable. We need to find a solution.”

Paulette says any move to release treated tailings into rivers would be a case of government protecting industry.

“Governments have to see that there is huge damage, and if they spill that tailing ponds into the river, as they’re looking at doing, that is outrageous,” said Paulette.

“People need to work together – governments, First Nations – how to go the best way forward. We are all faced with impacts and dangers of contaminations.”

Now, Paulette wants to see a plan form with a shared commitment from Indigenous, provincial and territorial governments.

“We’ve had a lot of water conferences up here in the North. So a lot of information put out, but nothing really happened,” Paulette said. 

“This conference is dealing with not just water, but the impacts and the effects of climate change, and the results and the negative impacts [they] have had on a lot of our traditional activities.”

Norwegian, the Dehcho grand chief, said Dene have been hosting water conferences in the Dehcho region for 20 years. Decades ago, he said, Margaret and Justin Trudeau attended water meetings in the region.

In the years since those early meetings, Norwegian believes not much has been done. He said he came to this month’s meeting to exchange tangible ideas and suggestions for next steps.

A royal commission or something similar to the Berger Inquiry should be called for the Dehcho watershed, he said, referencing the work of Thomas Berger, whose pipeline inquiry in the 1970s changed the framework for consultation with northern Indigenous peoples.

“The Dehcho watershed comes right from Jasper, Alberta, all the way from the Yukon, Saskatchewan, and then all through the whole Mackenzie Valley. And in there, there’s a whole series of different types of developments that are going on upstream, and we, the people here in the North, are feeling the direct impact,” Norwegian said.

To him, an inquiry presents a framework for industry, governments, First Nations and people who live around the watershed to discuss, cross-examine, share stories and find solutions.

“What we saw with climate change and global evolution happening, we saw a lot of permafrost start to deteriorate,” Norwegian said. 

“Types of developments that are occurring, and what’s happening with climate change and everything and global evolution, is all having a toll on our Cradle of Life.”

Since the conference ended, Cardinal has been working to finalize a list of action items derived from discussions and teachings shared at the conference.

Cardinal expects the Dene Nation and territorial government to be called upon to declare a state of emergency for the Dehcho watershed because water levels are “critically low.”

“Something needs to be done quickly about this,” said Cardinal. 

Norwegian said the conference’s main message is that “water is stronger than oil.”

“We all require water,” added Paulette. “Every living species depends on water, and we just need to talk, work it out without being angry.

“Water is the centre of all living things.”