Treaty Right To Water
Work on the Treaty right to water is being managed by the Aboriginal Inland Habitat Program (AIHP) staff, in collaboration with staff from the Health and Economic and Community Development Secretariat.Aboriginal Inland Habitat Program (AIHP)
The objective of the Aboriginal Inland Habitat Program (AIHP) is to work with First Nation communities and Tribal Councils to develop and implement long-term capacity plans to manage and protect fish habitat through the First Nations Fish Habitat Stewardship Framework. The Stewardship Framework was developed through a series of First Nations community and Tribal Council discussions. Key issues identified include: capacity building; fish habitat protection and research; and the use of Indigenous Knowledge Systems. The AIHP focuses on providing education and awareness on aquatic environments primarily fish habitat. The AIHP will continue to meet its mandate and will continue to promote environmental awareness initiatives and species at risk concerns. The impacts to the species and the ecosystems they dwell in is of great concern when it comes to First Nations Treaty and Inherent Rights. The AIHP, a contribution program from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) is to enhance the ability of Aboriginal Groups, working together to participate in the decision making process relating to habitat management regulatory and non-regulatory activities. The AIHP has recently undergone an evaluation result in a shift of some of the program deliverables within the province. The objective of the evaluation was to assess the relevance of AIHP activities in relation to DFO's mandate and strategic outcomes as well as the federal government and the performance of the AIHP delivering its activities in terms of efficiency, effectiveness and economy. Prior to the evaluation, funding was provided for a communications person and a biologist. Funding is only available now for a Youth Researcher and a Traditional Ecological Knowledge Researcher. The long term goals for the program as planned by the Secretariat had to be re-evaluated in line with the reduced budget and to meet fewer deliverables.
Source Water Protection Strategy
Several initiatives are under way to support source water protection, including the following: the LRS has been working with other Secretariats on the creation of an FSIN interdepartmental strategy on safe drinking water; the LRS is currently considering a formal partnership with Saskatchewan Watershed Authority through the FSIN-Environment partnership agreement; and research is being undertaken to identify pesticide use, environmental and health impacts and regulation in Canada. . This information will be posted on the LRS website when completed.