Lands, Resources, Environment & Stewardship
FHQTC mandated and instituted the Lands, Resources, Environment & Stewardship (LRES) department in November 2018. Our focus is to support sustainable capacity and innovative development opportunities for member First Nations in their stewardship responsibilities to the lands, resources, and environment.
The initiatives of the LRES department contribute to shaping public policy. We develop and implement practical approaches to address the issues member First Nations are challenged with, both individually and collectively. These approaches are inclusive of our cultural and traditional foundations that recognize the values and practices of our distinct Nations of the Saulteaux (Anishinaabe), Lakota, Dakota, Nakoda, and Cree (Nehiyaw).
We also take a nation-building approach based upon traditional knowledge, language, jurisdiction recognition and assertions, capable institutions, culturally relevant actions, strategic orientations, and inclusivity with all member First Nation’s leadership and citizens.
Lands, Resources, Enviroment & Stewardship Chiefs Committee
The LRES department is guided by the direction from our Chiefs Committee:
FHQTC
Tribal Chief Jeremy Fourhorns
File Hills Agency
Chief Scott Eashappie,
Carry The Kettle Nakoda Nation
Chief Clarence Bellegarde,
Little Black Bear’s Band
Qu’Appelle Agency
Chief Fabian Ironeagle
Pasqua First Nation
Chief Carolyn Wahobin
Nekaneet First Nation
Current Initiatives
Consultation, Resources & Stewardship Centre
- Engagement and Information sharing with Leadership, Land Users, Women’s Council, Youth Advisory Council, Traditional Knowledge Keepers, Elders and Language Keepers
- Support to FHQTC member First Nations on consultation requests
- Partnership development
- Research development and information sharing
Indigenous Community-Based Climate Monitoring
- Air, water and weather monitoring
- Engagement and information sharing with Leadership, Land Users, Women’s Council, Youth Advisory Council, Traditional Knowledge Keepers, Elders and Language Keepers
- Climate risk communication
Climate Change and Health Adaptation Program
- Engagement and information sharing with Leadership, Land Users, Women’s Council, Youth Advisory Council, Traditional Knowledge Keepers, Elders and Language Keepers
- Land-based healing practices
- Land, culture, language, and wellness
- Climate impact on sacred sites
- Language preservation
Collective Guardian Initiative
- Assessment and monitoring of the Lower Qu’Appelle Watershed
- Language in our Lands and Waters
- Traditional Knowledge preservation and sharing activities
Indigenous Habitat Protection Program
- Engagement, research, and development of monitoring protocols for conserving and protecting fish and fish habitat
- Engaging Youth Advisory Council and Language Keepers in fish habitat protection
- Documenting changes in fish habitat and their impacts on Inherent and Treaty rights to fish
- Documenting cumulative effects on Lower Qu’Appelle and Chain of Lakes, including the impacts of water management and water quality on ecological integrity and food security
Aboriginal Fund for Species at Risk
- Documenting the impacts of water control on the Bigmouth Buffalo and documenting impacts of water management and water quality on Inherent and Treaty rights
- Research and monitoring with Youth Advisory Council
- Diet studies and fish tagging
Contaminants Program
- Analysis of methylmercury in fish from the Qu’Appelle River and Chain of Lakes
Indigenous Climate Leadership Program
- Engagement with FHQTC Youth Advisory Council and Language Keepers on climate change and climate change impacts on Inherent and Treaty rights
- Policy analyses of federal and regional climate change adaptation strategies
First Nations Climate Adapt
- Policy development, research, and engagement on climate change and federal climate change policies (UNDRIPA, Paris Agreement)
- Development of an FHQTC Climate Change Strategy
- Development of a regional scale climate assessment
- Analysis of surface and groundwater sustainability
Indigenous Capacity Support Program, Impact Assessment Agency of Canada
- Mapping tools, development, and training
- Engagement with member First Nations, Youth Advisory Council, Elders, Language Keepers, and Leadership.
- Research and analysis of impacts factors to be considered under the Impact Assessment Act
Engagement on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) Act
- Discussion forum with Leadership, Youth Advisory Council, Language Keepers, and Citizens on the Act and Action Plan implementation
- Policy analysis, the intersection of Treaty Rights and UNDRIP
Analysis of Legislation, Policy, and First Nation Jurisdiction
- Indigenous Advisory and Monitoring Committee Enbridge Line 3 Replacement Project
- Inherent Treaty right to hunt, rights advocacy, and capacity building
- Review of specific claims policy
- CER Filings Review and Project Condition Compliance
- Professional strategic planning, cumulative effects, tools development, and consultation policy development
- Mapping resources and GIS capacity development
- Resource Centre management, operation, and administration
- Rights advocacy with federal Ministers’ offices
- Proposal for an Act respecting drinking water, wastewater, and related infrastructure on First Nations lands
- Development of Canada Water Agency and modernization of the Canada Water Act
- Lake Diefenbaker Irrigation Project
- Impact Assessment Act of Canada (Bill C69)
- Bill C-15 UNDRIPA action plan
- Bill S5 Canadian Environmental Protection Act
- Bill 161, Provincial Trespass to Property
- Public Offerings Land & Mineral Sales
- Treaty Land Entitlement & Crown Land Divestiture
- Carbon Offset Program/Biodiversity & Sustainable Development
- Wetland Drainage
- Prairie Water Apportionment
- Fishing Stations Orders in Council
- Supreme Court of Canada Intervenor- Impact Assessment Agency vs Alberta
