We, the undersigned, recognize and respect the Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (KI) Water Declaration and Consultation Protocols which were passed by a community referendum on July 5, 2011 with the support of 96% of ballots cast, and brought into force as Indigenous Law by KI Chief and Council through a Band Council Resolution along with a spiritual ceremony and blessings of the results.

The KI Watershed Declaration applies to a vast 13,025 square kilometer area of boreal lakes, rivers, forest, and wetlands in KI Homeland that is over 20 times the size of the City of Toronto, including 661 square kilometer Big Trout Lake.  It states that:

“We declare all waters that flow into and out of Big Trout Lake, and all lands whose waters flow into those lakes, rivers, and wetlands, to be completely protected through our continued care under KI’s authority, laws and protocols… No industrial uses, or other uses which disrupt, poison, or otherwise harm our relationship to these lands and waters will be permitted.”

Activities affecting KI’s lands and resources must only proceed with KI’s free, prior and informed consent.  The Consultation Protocol sets out how KI consent will be given freely, where KI people are fully informed of the consequences prior to any decisions being made, and according to KI’s own laws and decision-making processes.

The KI Water Declaration states that:

“We call on our supporters to recognize and respect this declaration.  We call on you to fulfill your duty as treaty people to take action, under our direction, to hold your governments accountable to respecting this declaration.  Please stand with us as we assert and implement our Indigenous Laws and responsibilities.  Together we can protect this sacred water for all people, all animals, all plants and all life.”

We commit to supporting KI in implementing and enforcing these Indigenous Laws, and we accept our joint responsibility to protect water as the sacred source of life. 

We call on the governments of Ontario and Canada to recognize and respect KI’s Water Declaration and Consultation Protocol.

KI has governed the watersheds that are at the core of KI culture since time out of memory.

We call on Ontario to begin respecting KI's Water Declaration by immediately giving the watersheds interim protection and commencing negotiations with KI on the recognition of KI's governance of the watersheds.

We also call on Ontario to respect KI’s moratorium on all logging, mining exploration and development activity (including airborne exploration, claim staking and early exploration), energy developments, research projects and any other activities that would impact KI lands and resources unless and until they have been agreed to through KI’s Consultation Protocol.

We will help ensure that KI’s Declaration and Protocol is recognized and respected by all governments and corporations.

 

  

Aboriginal Rights Working Group Bathurst, Bloor & Trinity-St. Paul's United Churches

Amicus Foundation

AWARE Midland

AW@L

Bathurst Street United Church

Boreal Forest Network

Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)

CUPE 3902

Canadian Youth Climate Coalition

Christian Peacemaker Teams – Canada

Climate Justice Ottawa

Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid

Council of Canadians

Earthroots

Ecojustice

Faculty for Palestine in Toronto.

Greenpeace

Health for All

Indigenous Peoples Solidarity Movement Ottawa

Immigration Legal Committee of the Law Union of Ontario

Judy Rebick

Labour For Palestine

Latin American and Caribbean Solidarity Network

Mining Watch Canada

No One is Illegal Toronto

Ontario Nature

Ontario Federation of Labour

OPIRG-Carleton

Polaris Institute

Peterborough and Kawarthas Chapter, Council of Canadians

Public Service Alliance of Canada – Ontario

Rainforest Action Network

The Collective @ the Center for Women and Trans People at UofT

Students Against Israeli Apartheid

Toronto Stop the Cuts Network