UBC Okanagan is co-hosting the Columbia River Basin symposium with Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wash.
UBC Okanagan’s prominent Indigenous scholar and activist, Dr. Jeannette Armstrong, will deliver the keynote address at the Columbia River Transboundary Water Governance and Ethics Symposium, to be held at Gonzaga University from November 12 to 14 in Spokane, Washington.
Dr. Armstrong will address the critical role of Indigenous knowledge in governance and the necessity of integrating youth perspectives in discussions about water stewardship.
Dr. Joanne Taylor, a UBCO postdoctoral research fellow in Columbia River Basin Governance and the symposium chair, says the event prioritizes youth engagement and seeks to empower the next generation of water warriors committed to protecting the Columbia River Basin.
“The Columbia River is not just a resource; it is a lifeblood for communities and ecosystems,” Dr. Taylor says. “We invite community members, scholars and advocates to join us in this important dialogue as we strive for a just and equitable governance system.”
UBCO and Gonzaga are co-hosting the symposium alongside their host Nations, the syilx Okanagan and the Spokane Tribe of Indians. The event will explore the emerging initiatives and public governance issues in the Columbia River Basin, focusing on the impacts of climate change, water quality, Indigenous fisheries revitalization and public engagement.
This symposium is particularly timely following the recent announcement by Columbia River Treaty negotiators about their agreement in principle.
The agreement between Canada and the United States marks a pivotal step in modernizing the Columbia River Treaty, which has been essential for decades for managing flood risk and generating hydropower.
Registration for the symposium is now open. Participants can expect robust discussions on water quality, climate change, governance and salmon restoration, guided by ethics, justice and intergenerational equity principles.
