A protest was held in Piikani Nation over the weekend over concerns related to environmental issues. Photo by Stephen Strand
A protest was held in Piikani Nation over the weekend over concerns related to environmental issues.
Chief Troy “Bossman” Knowlton of Piikani Nation says they held this to help inform southern Alberta water users.
Chief Knowlton goes on to explain some of those issues.
As part of that 2002 settlement, the Canadian and Alberta governments were required to pay Piikani Nation $64.3 million ($32.15million from the Canadian government and $32.15 million from the Alberta Government), amongst other things, including a Water Bylaw.
But, Chief Knowlton says that agreement has been breached.
The Water Act of 2000 says that all water in the province of Alberta, including the right it its diversion and use, is owned by the Crown, and Chief Knowlton says that in 2017, the Alberta government declared that Alberta owns all the waterways, tributaries, lakes, and stream in the province.
The third breach involved restricting waterflow.
Chief Knowlton adds that the government of Alberta continues to do as they please.
On top of that, Chief Knowlton brings up water issues that Piikani Nation and Alberta are facing, but he says the Provincial Government and Canadian Government are not conducting consultations.
According to Chief Knowlton, he is hoping this protest will help people to be aware of water issues the Piikani Nation is hosting.
Under the Natural Resources Transfer Acts (NRTA), which were passed by the Parliament of Canada and the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan in 1930, saw the transfer of control over crown lands and natural resources within these provinces from the Canadian government to the Provincial governments.
Chief Knowlton says he wants to look into that water rights case, because the settlement agreement from 2002 is not working for Piikani Nation.
On the topic of water issues, Chief Knowlton says Piikani Nation is conducting their own baseline studies to determine how coal mining on the eastern slopes of the Rockies affects their waters.
Chief Knowlton goes back to the Oldman River Dam, which affected the land in Piikani Nation.
In 1876, the Indian Act came into power, which forbade Indigenous communities from expressing their identities through governance and culture.
According to Chief Knowlton, prior to the dam being built, Piikani Nation was filled with more trees.
As part of that lost land, there were ceremonial and burial grounds, as well as homes, including Chief Knowlton’s home.
The reason why he doesn’t have a home on the Nation is because there is so much need for housing on the Nation and he didn’t want to jump the line and get a house.
Chief Knowlton wants people to educate themselves about what people Piikani Nation are upset about regarding water and environmental rights.
Chief Knowlton adds that Indigenous people are educated, and they are now ready to fight for their rights.
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