Governance

Reconciliation in Action

Clean, abundant surface water and groundwater flowing in rivers, streams, and aquifers is a condition for exercising inherent Indigenous rights, responsibilities, laws, and jurisdiction. Yet, today, rivers, creeks, streams, wetlands, lakes, and aquifers across the Nicola watershed are facing unprecedented pressures from the cumulative impacts of climate change, historic management and allocation decisions, growing demand, and development.

The NWGP is seeking reconciliation through transformative changes in how water is governed and managed. Through the partnership, we are learning how to work together to plan, develop policy and make decisions relating to water – combining the Nicola 5 bands’ and Provincial government perspectives. This includes increasing recognition and understanding of Nłeʔkepmx and syilx laws, and respect for the 5 Nicola Band’s inherent rights and cultural obligations and relationships to water.

The Nicola Government to Government (G2G) Reconciliation Wheel represents a shared vision of what it means for the NWGP to put reconciliation into action, and how to make real progress toward healthy communities and healthy waters. It shows three main goals that support reconciliation – a Strong G2G Partnership, Sustainable Water Management, and Good Governance. The nine statements in the rim of the wheel describe what success looks like for each goal.

Through the NWGP, we are proactively addressing a range of complex water management plans and decisions in the Nicola Valley, including those related to drought and flood management, water storage and flows management, and land use activities that impact water. Our work focuses on ecosystems and communities, and continues to involve everyone locally impacted. We are working together to:

Convene communities and stakeholders in inclusive processes,
Clarify the values we want to protect or enhance,
Explore issues and co-develop options,
Make informed and transparent decisions, and
Jointly manage and monitor conditions in the watershed over time.

The NWGP also provides a venue for input on broader water policy questions and joint recommendations about collaborative governance arrangements.

Indigenous laws are foundational to co-governance. The University of Victoria’s Indigenous Law Research Unit (ILRU) has been engaged to illuminate and articulate the laws of the Nłeʔkepmx and syilx peoples, which are held and expressed, among other ways, in the customs, stories, traditions, practices and relationships by which Nłeʔkepmx and Syilx people have lived in and cared for these territories for innumerable generations. Insights from this work will inform the G2G partnership. Read more about how Indigenous laws inform Our Processes.