JOBS: Event Coordinator: Keepers of the Water VI Watershed Gathering, Fort Nelson BC
February 20, 2012
Fort Nelson First Nation is seeking an experienced conference organizer to plan, organize, and coordinate Keepers of the Water VI, an international event to be held in Fort Nelson BC in September 2012. For details, download the posting or contact Fort Nelson First Nation.
» Posting: Special Event Coordinator, Keepers of the Water VI
» Keepers of the Water VI information


Keepers of the Water VI Watershed Gathering to be held in Fort Nelson BC
February 12, 2012
Keepers of the Water is proud to announce that the Keepers of the Water VI Watershed Gathering will be hosted by the Fort Nelson First Nation in Fort Nelson, BC. The annual Gathering is tentatively scheduled for September 6-8, 2012. Further information and registration details will be available soon.
» Keepers of the Water VI


Keepers of the Water Publishes a Position Paper on the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline
February 11, 2012
As Keepers of the Water, we believe our present Conservative Government in Ottawa is putting oil industry profits ahead of the social, economic and environmental well-being of Canadians. It is being done in such a way as to erode our democratic rights in the process. This paper, prepared by the Keepers of the Athabasca and Keepers of the Water, outlines our position on the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline and our concerns for the right of participation in the Environmental Assessment process.
» Our position on: The Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline, Keepers of the Water (364Kb PDF)


VIDEO: Spoil, a documentary on the Great Bear Rainforest
January 30, 2012
This powerful documentary by EP Films has incredible photography by a group of the world's top wildlife photographers. It brings the true picture of the coast this oil would be traveling through to get to open ocean, and the danger level involved. It highlights the nature we all want to protect, but our blinkered and incessant addiction to burn more oil, is helping to destroy.
» Spoil, a documentary on the Great Bear Rainforest, EP Films


Keepers Participate in Ottawa Action against the Keystone Pipeline
September 27, 2011
Keepers of the Athabasca Chair Roland Woodward of Ft. McMurray First Nation and Co-Chair Julie Burke of the Keepers of the Pembina led protesters over the barricade in a peaceful demonstration against the proposed Keystone XL Pipeline from Alberta to Texas, on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on September 26, 2011. Julie and Roland were arrested along with more than 100 other protesters in their courageous stand for Our Sacred Water. Roland was easy to spot with his big white hat, eagle feather and cane.All protestors who were arrested were fined, banned from the Parliament grounds for one year, and released. No criminal charges were laid.
» Read the full news release
» VIDEO: Ottawa Action, Greenpeace


Peter Kent, MP responds to Keepers call for assessment
September 8, 2011
The Honourable Peter Kent, MP and Minister of the Environment, has responded to the request by the Keepers of the Athabasca for a full panel federal environmental assessment of the BC Hydro Site C dam.
» Download our request for an environmental assessment, June 17, 2011 (53Kb PDF)
» Download Minister Kent's response (143Kb PDF)


Keepers of the Water V Watershed Gathering comes to a close
August 14, 2011
Northlands Denesuline Nation and Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak are grateful to all participants and guests for the success of the 5th Annual Keepers of the Water Gathering, held in northern Manitoba August 10-14, 2011. Our theme was Water of Life.
» Further information and outcomes


Registration is now open for Keepers of the Water V
June 14, 2011
Preparations for this year's Watershed Gathering are well under way, with a formal invitation and draft agenda now available for download. Early registration is now open.
» Further information and registration package


Fundraising: Help us fund the Keepers Watch Toll-Free Reporting Hotline
March 15, 2011
Join us in celebration of CanadaWaterWeek March 15-22. Support our effort to give citizens the opportunity to voice their concerns on what is happening along the Athabasca River through the Toll-Free Reporting Hotline. The Hotline provides citizens with the opportunity to become a part of the solution within their local community. Information compiled will also be used to determine where concentrated efforts are needed along the watershed. World Water Day is March 22 and we can make this project a reality by then. Your small change can make big change!
» Project details and your opportunity to give


Tipping Point: CBC's Nature of Things looks at the oil sands
January 27, 2011
This two-hour documentary special hosted by Dr. David Suzuki goes into the heart of the conflict surrounding Alberta's oil sands. Featured voices include Francois Paulette (Keepers III Program Chair), Dr. David Schindler, Dr. John O'Connor (Keepers III keynote speaker), Chief Allan Adam, and several others of the Keepers family, along with Avatar director James Cameron.
» CBC Nature of Things: Tipping Point complete documentary


Keepers of the Athabasca holds its fall board and council meeting at MBRS
November 17, 2010
Keepers of the Athabasca will hold its fall board and council meeting Friday, November 19 to Sunday, November 21 at the University of Alberta's Meanook Biological Research Station.


Keepers of the Water IV featured in the Watershed Sentinel
November 12, 2010
Keepers of the Water IV has been featured in the November-December 2010 issue of the Watershed Sentinel, western Canada's only enviro-news magazine.
» Keepers of the Water IV · Watershed Sentinel, November-December 2010


Save the Date: Keepers of the Water V Watershed Gathering
October 14, 2010
Keepers of the Water V is slated for the Northlands Denesuline Nation in Lac Brochet, Manitoba, August 10-14, 2011. Our theme this year will be Water of Life. Be sure to join us for this important and inspiring annual event. Conference information and registration forms will be available early in 2011.
» Gathering details and contact information


APTN Investigates: Toxic Overflow Part 1 and Part 2
September 29, 2010
In these video segments, APTN studies the contamination of First Nations by unregulated landfills and dumps, and the risk of groundwater pollution by toxic industrial waste. Part One looks at the problem in the Sagkeeng First Nation in Manitoba. Part Two looks at work being done in Saskatchewan First Nations.
» APTN Investigates: Toxic Overflow Part 1 and Part 2


Photos: Downstream Community Members Hold Healing Walk through Tar Sands Region
September 22, 2010
On Saturday, August 14th the Keepers of the Athabasca, a network of First Nation, Metis and settler community members along the Athabasca river hosted a 'healing walk' through the tar sands. Photo gallery.
» Photos


Keepers of the Athabasca signs letter to Pelosi and Markey
September 10, 2010
The Keepers of the Athabasca and a number of our sister organizations working to protect the Athabasca Watershed have submitted a letter to US Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi and Congressman Edward Markey, Chairman of the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming. Our letter highlights our concern with the very serious consequences of reliance on Canadian tar sands oil and the Keystone XL tar sands oil pipeline.
» Letter to Pelosi and Markey 105kb PDF


New bird mortality report released
September 9, 2010
A new report has been published in The Wilson Journal of Ornithology by Kevin P. Timoney and Robert A. Ronconi, showing annual bird mortality in the bitumen tailings ponds of northeastern Alberta greatly exceeds industry estimates.
» Report: Annual bird mortality in the bitumen tailings ponds in northeastern Alberta, Canada


Keepers of the Water: A wake-up call from the North
September 2, 2010 · Rita Wong, Associate Professor of Critical+Cultural Studies, Emily Carr University
This August, I was very fortunate to participate in the Keepers of the Water IV Conference in Wollaston Lake, northern Saskchewan. It was my first time to this remote community, which can only be reached by barge/boat or airplane as there are no roads that go directly there. People say that the water is clean enough there that you can drink it right out of the lake, which I saw someone doing. The lake, Saskatchewan's largest one, certainly looked beautiful, though I hesitated to drink from it like the locals.
» Read the full article


Outcomes from Keepers of the Water IV now available
September 2, 2010
A follow-up briefing and resolutions established at Keepers of the Water IV Watershed Gathering 2010 are now available. We ask our 500+ Gathering participants to watch their emails for an evaluation form coming soon.
» Keepers of the Water IV watershed gathering


Announcing Keepers of the Water V Watershed Gathering 2011
September 1, 2010
The Keepers of the Water series of watershed gatherings continues its move eastward. In 2011, we will gather in northern Manitoba, at a location and date to be determined by Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak. Further information will be available in the spring.
» Keepers of the Water V watershed gathering


New oilsands report released
August 29, 2010
A new report has been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences by Erin N. Kelly, David W. Schindler, Peter V. Hodson and Jeffrey W. Short, linking high levels of toxic pollutants in the Athabasca River system to oilsands mining.
» Report: Oil sands development contributes elements toxic at low concentrations to the Athabasca River and its tributaries


Saskatchewan uranium mines create toxic legacy
August 27, 2010 · Kyle Ashmead, Digital Journal
The Keepers of the Water Saskatchewan hosted Keepers of the Water IV from August 19th to August 23rd, 2010. The conference took place in northern Saskatchewan, with over five hundred people including locals in attendance. Conference attendees discussed many issues affecting the north, not least among them, was uranium mining in Saskatchewan.
» Read the full article


Keepers of the Water IV Watershed Gathering 2010 comes to a successful close
August 23, 2010
Thank you to the Keepers, speakers, and attendees of the Keepers of the Water IV Watershed Gathering in Wollaston Lake, Saskatchewan. With 530 registered participants, important connections were established and key information was shared about the issues affecting the North. Thank you in particular to our hosts, the Hatchet Lake Denesuline First Nation, and the full Keepers IV Planning Committee for a well-organized event and a memorable cultural experience.
» Keepers of the Water IV watershed gathering


Keepers of the Athabasca: Healing Walk, August 14
August 14, 2010
» Keepers of the Athabasca news