$100 Million for Watershed Security Fund to Be Co-developed With First Nations

The BC Government and BC First Nations Water Table have announced an initial investment of $100 million towards creating a Watershed Security Fund and a commitment to co-developing the Fund with First Nations through Budget 2023.

The Real Estate Foundation of BC, Watersheds BC, and the Healthy Watersheds Initiative applaud this historic milestone. This is the largest investment to date for watersheds in BC and marks a critical step towards the long-term, co-governed, sustainable funding needed to protect and restore our watersheds and bring us closer to watershed security.

The $100 million investment and co-development of the Watershed Security Fund was officially announced on March 6, 2023 with strong shared support from both Provincial and First Nations Leaders including B.C.’s Minister Nathan Cullen, Minister George Heyman, Parliamentary Secretary Fin Donnelly, and Parliamentary Secretary Kelly Greene, alongside Chief Lydia Hwitsum, Cowichan Tribes, and co-chair of the B.C. First Nations Water Table, Hugh Braker, K.C., First Nations Summit political executive and B.C.-First Nations Water Table delegate, Chief Jerry Jack representing Regional Chief Terry Teegee of the BC Assembly of First Nations and Mavis Underwood, Chair of the Healthy Watersheds Initiative Indigenous Leaders Advisory Circle.

This commitment from First Nations Leadership and the Province to co-develop a strategy and fund offers an inspiring and hopeful path forward towards deep, long-term co-governance, reconciliation and healing for watersheds and communities.

Leaders from the Healthy Watershed’s Initiative’s Indigenous Leaders Advisory Circle, Chief Lydia Hwitsum and Mavis Underwood, were present at the announcement.

“Co-developing the watershed security strategy and fund with First Nations, supported by the First Nations Fisheries Council of BC, signals an important shift. This brings the opportunity for watershed governance that values, honours and upholds the natural world we all mutually rely on.”

Chief Lydia Hwitsum, Cowichan Tribes, and co-chair of the BC First Nations Water Table

“It’s collaboration of Indigenous as well as non-Indigenous communities working together. A lot of expertise and skill is being transmitted through these projects. I can’t say enough of what I have seen coming from the young people trying to express their hope for the future and their gratitude for being allowed to participate in this future building.”

Mavis Underwood, Chair, Indigenous Leaders Advisory Circle & Governor, Real Estate Foundation of BC

“This investment will not only advance reconciliation, but it demonstrates a willingness to take global leadership on implementing UNDRIP.”

Tara Marsden, UNDRIP Fellow with the Real Estate Foundation of BC and Senior Indigenous Advisor to HWI

This commitment is laying the foundation for First Nations, communities, and organizations doing important work in their local watersheds to have access to long-term funding. Long term funding will advance the critical work needed to ensure access to clean drinking water, healthy and sustainable fish populations, enough water to grow food, and thriving local economies with good jobs that allow people to stay in their local communities.

This investment builds on the strong demonstrated impacts of Healthy Watersheds Initiative projects and offers a hopeful path forward for watershed security in BC. It is accompanied by the release of a co-developed Intentions Paper and six-week public engagement process from March 6 to April 17, 2023.