BC government invested

Submitted by Nicole Trigg, communications director, Living Lakes Canada

Living Lakes Canada is celebrating the BC Government’s decision to invest a historic $100 million into safeguarding the province’s watersheds. This unprecedented investment, announced as part of the 2023 budget, will go towards the establishment of a long-term Watershed Security Fund that will be co-managed by B.C. First Nations and support communities to increase their adaptation options in anticipation of continuing climate change impacts.

“Living Lakes Canada applauds the provincial government for taking this concrete step forward in watershed protection for the province,” said Kat Hartwig, executive director, Living Lakes Canada. “As a steering committee member of the Watershed Security Coalition and long-time advocate of a watershed security strategy and fund for the Province of BC, we are pleased to see these concepts become a reality with B.C. First Nations at the forefront of this paradigm-shifting approach to watershed management.”

The funding announcement formalized the role of a new B.C.-First Nations Water Table in the co-management of the Watershed Security Fund and the further co-development of a Watershed Security Strategy. The B.C.-First Nations Water Table (BCFNWT) is made up of representatives from the province and delegates from First Nations in B.C.

Coree Tull, co-chair of the Watershed Security Coalition, said, “We are encouraged to see the province taking real leadership on watershed security with this initial kick-

O’Neil said the importance of weaving Indigenous understandings into the classrooms and a framed the big question of who is reconciliation really for? She shared many perspectives including hard hitting words of former Canadian senate member and First Nations lawyer Murray Sinclair. Sinclair said, “For reconciliation to work, it needs to be a consistent climb, or a bend or a weave for all. It cannot be a pick or choose option.”