First of all, good afternoon, and thank you for asking me to witness today. My name is Erica Beaudin. I am chief of the Cowessess First Nation. We are the largest first nation in Treaty 4 territory, with 4,700 members or citizens.
Before I came to Ottawa—and I say Ottawa, but I acknowledge that we are on the unceded lands of the Algonquin people—I put down medicines in our waters while I prayed for all of us to have open minds, hearts and spirits as we look at the possibilities of the inaction of Bill C-61.
Water is alive. Water is life. None of us, not one of us, whether we are indigenous or not, can exist without clean drinking water. The social determinants of health are also very important to consider when we look at aspects such as providing safer communities for our children. There are several bills that are before Parliament right now, and to think that Bill C-61 sits in isolation and isn't connected to other bills means that it does not look at the interconnectedness of what it takes for our nations, our communities, to deliver proper living conditions for our people.
Bill C-61, the first nations clean water act, represents a significant step forward in affirming the rights of first nation communities to self-governance over water resources on our lands. It is a positive development in recognizing that first nations have the inherent right to manage our water, our own water, source water, drinking water and wastewater infrastructure. This legislative framework seeks to ensure that first nations have access to clean and safe drinking water, a long overdue commitment given the historical neglect and challenges faced by many indigenous communities in Canada.
The bill outlines several promising aspects, such as the creation of rights-based regulatory pathways in collaboration with first nations, other federal ministers and provincial governments. These pathways are designed to protect water sources adjacent to first nations' lands and to protect a legal structure for first nations to exercise control over water resources on our territories. This is an important recognition of self-determination and aligns with the principles set out in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
While the act is a step in the right direction, there are limitations that must be acknowledged. Funding is always a primary concern with anything related to first nations, and we need certainty to ensure that this legislation has long-term impact and enables predictability of resources to address the deep-rooted issues surrounding water quality and infrastructure. While the legislation speaks to best efforts to provide adequate and sustainable funding for water services, I believe we could strengthen that language to further strengthen the bill.
The other point I'd like to briefly touch on is the requirement for first nations to collaborate with provincial governments on protecting source water, which would present challenges. I can only speak from my experience as a chief from Saskatchewan, but on behalf of our nation in our fight for the sovereignty and jurisdiction over our traditional lands and waterways, I have seen and experienced first-hand the jurisdictional conflicts, unhelpful provincial actions and lack of rights recognition that complicate efforts to safeguard water quality on first nations lands.
I understand that there is a federal need for intergovernmental cooperation, but I would be remiss if I did not flag how that may hinder the timely implementation of protections that are crucial for ensuring safe drinking water for our communities. The criticism from some indigenous groups that the bill's “best efforts” clause is insufficient cannot be overlooked. The lack of a binding legal commitment to provide safe and clean drinking water, coupled with the absence of a clear mechanism for enforcement, means that the bill may not fully address the systemic issues it aims to solve.
Bill C-61 is a necessary and positive step towards recognizing first nations' rights to self-governance and ensuring clean water access. However, like any legislation, it can become stronger with amendments. I believe that with clearer tools, such as a commitment to predictable funding, coupled with mechanisms to support first nations in dealing with unaligned provincial governments, this legislation will protect water for all our generations yet to come.
The time is now for Bill C-61 to come into force.
Thank you very much.