In June, Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡi’it First Nation hosted the Without Water Symposium on our territory — a gathering that brought together Indigenous leaders, scientists, government representatives, community members, and industry to focus on one shared responsibility: protecting the future of Qukin ʔamakʔis (the Elk River watershed).
We are proud to have hosted such an important gathering on our lands. Qukin ʔamakʔis has been central to the ʔakanuxunik’ of Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡi’it and all Ktunaxa peoples since time immemorial. Today, in the face of growing environmental stressors, there is an urgent need for informed, collaborative decision-making to safeguard this vital waterway for generations to come.
The Without Water Symposium created space for open dialogue and mutual understanding — a step toward shared solutions and continued care for the land and water that sustain us all. Together, three recommended actions were developed to ensure current and future generations are not without water.
