I think transparency is a big issue in the concerns of first nations peoples. I think the recent response by the federal government and the Government of Alberta to some of these concerns regarding water quality and contaminants within the Athabasca is a step in the right direction.
That said, the lack of any first nations experts on the recent panel that was set up to do such monitoring, leading to the resignation of some of the panel members, I think is a sign that we need to do more. I think the inclusion of traditional ecological knowledge within the analysis of how water management is done is really critical.
I also think there could be more done to support bottom-up methods of community-based water monitoring in local communities. That doesn't exist at this point.
From the federal perspective and its relations with first nations, given that first nations' concerns are federal jurisdiction, I think resourcing should be made available for first nations to do their own community-based water monitoring programs, aside from the other responses the Government of Canada is putting forward.