“Natural laws govern our life…we have to include traditional ecological knowledge worldwide to strategize around climate change. Clearly things are not going in the trajectory they need to go, and we’re going to have to mitigate that. It’s the people who are most connected to the land who are going to help lead that.”
— Tori Cress (Communications Manager)
Who they are
Keepers of the Water is an Indigenous-led environmental organization working to protect the Arctic Ocean Drainage basin.
Keepers of the Water was born into existence as an urgent need for Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) to be heard, understood, respected and embraced as a critical solution to overcome the current clean water crisis. Keepers of the Water work to incorporate Indigenous science into research, providing TEK for decision-making and governance. Keepers of the Water has an interdisciplinary and holistic approach to their work and they honour and acknowledge that Indigenous Peoples are inherent to this land and carry knowledge in their stories and songs, going back to the time of Creation.
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Water
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Life
What they do
Keepers of the Water aim to actively work with Indigenous Nations, organizations, universities and other partners who are wanting to help ensure that Indigenous water governance becomes a recognized, viable and needed option to address water management across Canada.
Do you know about the tar sands?
The Athabasca oil sands, also known as the tar sands, are large deposits of bitumen (extremely heavy crude oil). These tar sands are among the most climate-polluting sources of oil. Within these tar sands are toxic tailings ponds, which are so large they should be referred to as lakes.
Why are tailings ponds dangerous?
Despite over two decades of industry promises, toxic tailings continue to grow and leach into groundwater. The toxic chemicals found in groundwater from tailings ponds are impacting Indigenous communities downstream. The Canadian government is currently trying to make changes to the Fisheries Act in order to make the dumping of “treated” tailings ponds into the Athabasca River legal. Keepers of the Water are working to fight this injustice and protect the Athabasca River and its’ local communities.
“Love, honor, and respect for water is what guides us. Our elders guide us, our ceremonies guide us.”
— Tori Cress (Communications Manager)
Help protect the Arctic Drainage Basin
A drainage basin is an area of land that connects water to a river or network of rivers. Canada has six major drainage basins including the Arctic Drainage Basin. The Arctic Drainage Basin spans the territories of many Indigenous Peoples and is vital to Indigenous Peoples’ inherent rights and abilities to hunt, fish, trap, and gather medicines.
Keepers of the Water aims to protect the Arctic Drainage Basin, which covers parts of Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Yukon, NWT, and Nunavut, and connects to many rivers, including the Peace, Slave, and Athabasca rivers.
Current projects
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We need to show what is truly in our waters. Keepers of the Water initiated community water monitoring because of unreliable industry and industry sponsored data.
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Keepers of the Water recognizes the need for youth outreach in their work, as the youth are inheriting the responsibility to protect the lands and waters. As Keepers of the Water grows as an organization they aim to grow their work with youth, too.
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In 2020, Keepers of the Water organized a Women’s Water Gathering. Indigenous matriarchs gathered to discuss water and share their teachings. They have also organized healing walks and events on decolonizing water governance and the sacred gift of water.
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Everything that happens downstream of the tar sands impacts the Arctic ocean. Keepers of the Water focuses their work on the cumulative impacts happening to all communities downstream from the tar sands and the ever growing tailings ponds.
Want to partner with Keepers of the Water?
If you would like to inquire about potential partnerships, co-hosting an event, or would like to learn more about how to support the work of Keepers of the Water contact the Keepers of the Water team.
“There is a lot of Indigenous women leadership in Keepers of the Water and I think that speaks to how we feel and who prioritizes the work. As women we are keepers of the water and our role is to protect water as we are all born of water. Doesn’t matter who you are or where you’re from, we are all born of water.”
Tori Cress (Communications Manager)
Donate
Help protect the Arctic Ocean Drainage Basin by supporting the grassroots work of the Keepers of the Water. Through your generous support Keepers of the Water will continue to evolve and grow.
