A Native Land Claim Director's Viewpoint on River Management

Based on a speech given by Joe Weasel Child
Director of Land Claims
Siksika Nation
October 14, 1995

Treaty agreements encouraged farming and ranching as a new way of life

The Siksika Nation lies along the Bow River. We have received less total water flow over the years with more water in winter and less in summer. Something is interfering with natural, historic flows.

Water Quotas

Compounding this problem, we have had no input into deciding our licensed quota of 740 acres of water. The Eastern Irrigation District is licensed to remove 275,000 acres. This difference between a large company and our reserve is in dispute.

Fish As Food

We don't sportfish; we survive on fish. In 1993, high coliform bacteria counts were above recommended standards on most test dates. Ammonia levels from cattle wastes have been on an upward trend.

Reserve Land

The Siksika treaty process dates from prior to Alberta becoming a province. Our original way of life was decimated back then. The best remedy offered by the government of the day was to encourage farming and ranching. Because of this, a river was included with our reserve land. Now, we are unable to use this river as originally intended.

Translating the Water Code

We don't want confrontation but our concerns must be addressed. We've always had an unwritten water code and we're now in the process of translating it into English law so that it can be shared with other people.