Agenda

Airport Ballroom

Airport Ballroom

Keilani was born and raised in Lheidli T’enneh. Along their matrilineal roots, they belong to the Lheidli T’enneh nation and hold intersectional Indigeneity with the Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawai’ian) diaspora. Rose also carries British settler, Chinese immigrant, and Black ancestry. Rose made her film debut starring in and choreographing Within the Silence which garnered the Festival de Cannes awards for Best Fantasy and Best Choreography. They are also known for their role as Miigwan on the hit comedy Shoresy. Keilani is the founder and executive director of Two Rivers & a Rose Filmworks, her production company striving for sovereign stories and Indigenous justice. When she’s not behind the camera, she dedicates her efforts towards a climate justice/Indigenous justice campaign, Lheidli Too (Two Rivers Water), working in partnership with Autumn Peltier’s team, advocating for the protection and reclamation of Sacred Waters.

1. Panel: Strategic Pathways for Passing and Implementing the First Nations Clean Water Act with UN Declaration Alignment – Aitport Ballroom

Moderated by: Dr. Kerry Black
w/ Regional Chief Terry Teegee, Chief Dan Manuel, Upper Nicola Band, Caleb Behn

Given the prorogued parliament, the First Nations Clean Water Act (C-61) will not have the opportunity to receive Royal Assent in the near future. Should a likely snap election take place, First
Nations must be equipped to advocate for meaningful legislation that protects their water rights and ensures safe drinking water in our communities. This panel will examine the key opportunities to
harness the potential of Bill C-61 and unique position of BC First Nations to prepare for a political strategy to ensure bi-partisan support for the passing and implementation of the legislation.

2. Breakout: Whole-of-River Protection for the Fraser River: Utilizing First Nations Water Laws and Crown Laws to Advance Watershed Protection – Bridgeport

his breakout session will explore ʔEsdilagh First Nation’s development of the of the ʔElhdaqox Water Law that seeks to protect the Fraser River and the sub-watersheds that feed into the river.
This presentation will be followed by presentation by the University of Victoria’s Environmental Law Centre who will share a recent report that examines several legal tools that can support the holistic protection and management of the Fraser River and beyond. Presenters will share strategies that uphold First Nations water rights, environmental law, and collaborative governance to address the ecological, cultural, and legal complexities of river protection diverse legal tools and collaborative frameworks.

3. Breakout: Collaborative Governance Models: Learnings from the Okanagan Similkameen Collaborative Leadership Table and the Cowichan Watershed Board – Steveston

Collaborative governance over First Nations’ lands and waters is at the heart of implementing the UN Declaration through shared decision-making frameworks based on respect and free, prior, and informed consent. Water management, in particular, requires multilateral cooperation to effectively
steward our shared waters. This breakout session will explore shared water governance models that are underway in BC as a blueprint for First Nations and other jurisdictions across the province.

Moderated by: Andrea Reimer, Tawâw Strategies w/ Dr. Daniele Behn-Smith, Dr. Shannon Waters, Lydia Hwitsum

Panelists will delve into the critical interplay between Crown health and water policies and their impact on the First Nations’ health. Featuring health experts Dr. Daniele Behn-Smith and Dr. Shannon Waters and Lydia Hwitsum, the discussion will explore the intersectional relationship between water policy and the social determinants of First Nations health. The panel will also assess
the need for these policies to align with the UN Declaration to ensure that reforms support holistic wellness and sustainability for First Nations.

1. Panel: A Business Case for Watershed Protection, and Economic Reconciliation in Alignment with the UN Declaration – Airport Ballroom

Moderated by: Zita Botelho, Director, Watersheds BC w/ Grace Martineau, Director of Housing and Infrastructure, AFN & Deana Machin, Senior Indigenous Advisor, Watersheds BC

Working for Watersheds released an Economic Impact Report in 2021, outlining the key economic impacts of BCs Watershed sector as a tool for climate change mitigation. Complimentary to this report, the AFN in partnership with the Conference Board of Canada released a report entitled
“Benefits for All Canadians: Economic Impact of Closing the Infrastructure Gap,” which highlights the potential of an estimated $350 billion federal investment, projecting a $635 billion increase in economic output, creating and sustaining over 338,000 jobs per year and generating $87 billion in
government revenue over the next seven years. This panel will explore interconnectedness of closing the infrastructure gap, watershed protection and economic reconciliation in alignment with the UN Declaration. Panelists will discuss the importance of closing the infrastructure gap through
sustainable economic practices that benefit both First Nations and the environment.

2. Breakout: Bill C-61 – Source Water Protection and Transboundary Agreements – Bridgeport

The First Nations Clean Water Act is no longer in consideration for Royal Assent given prorogued parliament and a potential snap election. This technical discussion will provide key considerations to implement provisions within C-61 that do not require the legislation to pass for implementation
including source water protection and transboundary agreements.

3. Breakout: Canada Water Agency: Pathways Towards First Nations Regional Governance Mechanisms – Steveston

With the recent launching of the Canada Water Agency, First Nations input, participation and decision-making is vital for its implementation including determining regional priorities, funding, and Canada Water Act reforms. This breakout session will dive into the mandates of the Canada Water Agency and explore considerations for how BC First Nations seek inclusion and decision-making in the Canada Water Agency policy, legislative and program implementation.

1. Panel: Designing and Implementing Funding Programs in Alignment with the UN Declaration – Airport Ballroom

Moderator: Kris Archie, CEO, Circle on Philanthropy w/ Brian Holmes, First Nations Water Caucus, Melissa Grimes, Executive Director, NRS Strategic Partnerships, Policy & Legislation & TBA

This panel will discuss how traditional funding mechanisms are evolving to uphold the UN Declaration, highlighting innovative practices that uphold First Nations’ self-determination over their lands, waters, and resources. This discussion will explore funding approaches that are not only supportive but are instrumental in revitalizing First Nations’ water jurisdiction, governance and stewardship to achieve meaningful reconciliation through forward-thinking policy reform and new approaches to funding frameworks for First Nations-led land and water-based programs and initiatives.

2. Breakout: Restoring the Land, Healing the Waters: Indigenous-Led Restoration in Blueberry River First Nations – Bridgeport

This session will delve into the transformative effects of the Yahey decision on watershed management within the Blueberry River First Nation territory through the creation of the Blueberry River Restoration Society. Representatives from BRRS and Blueberry River First Nation will share
its role in shaping current and future watershed restoration and protection efforts in the territory.

3. Breakout: Data for Governance: Leveraging Support from the BC First Nations Regional Information Governance Centre – Steveston

The BC Regional Information Governance Centre (BCRIGC) launched as an initiative responsible for leading the First Nations Data Governance Strategy to advance First Nations’ data sovereignty. The centre seeks to equip First Nations governments with the knowledge, skills, and infrastructure
needed to serve their information needs. For Nations interested in advancing water/climate data collection and monitoring projects, this breakout will explore some of the projects undertaken by the BC RIGC including more information on micro grants offered to nations to repatriate data, build infrastructure and establish systems for long-term governance successes for nation rebuilding.

Airport Ballroom

Airport Ballroom

Airport Ballroom

Moderated By: Keilani Rose w/ Hugh Braker, Co-Commissioner, BC-First Nations Water Table and Tyrone McNeil, Sharing the Pen Process: BC Flood Strategy, James Mack, Assistant Deputy Minister, WLRS

This panel will discuss various tables that have embodied co-development and co-implementation in the water space including representatives from the BC-First Nations Water Table and the Sharing the Pen Process for the BC Flood Strategy to inform provincial and federal policy. This discussion will frame out lessons learned in these collaborative spaces as case studies for consideration for future collaborative tables.

Airport Ballroom

Moderated by: Kat Hartwig, Living Lakes Canada w/ Chief Heidi Gravelle, Tobacco Plains Indian Band, Dr. Susan Chiblow, IJC Canadian
Commissioner, Deborah Curran, Executive Director, Environmental Law Centre, University of Victoria, James Mack, Assistant Deputy Minister, WLRS

President Donald Trump has expressed interest in using economic force to destabilize Canada’s economy and acquire Canada to become the 51st US State. President Trump has also made
repeated claims that Canada’s waters should be acquired to solve the US’s water shortages. These claims present real threats to BC First Nations and all British Columbians, requiring strategic
thinking on collaborative approaches to Canada’s domestic and foreign policy. This discussion aims to draw upon collaborative transboundary agreements including the Columbia River Treaty, Elk-
Kootenai/y watershed as a blueprint to set a path for how trilateral collaborative partnerships amongst First Nations, BC and Canada can accelerate watershed security for all British Columbians.