Despite years of concern from Tribes and First Nations, scientists, businesses, residents and stakeholders across international lines, and unanimous calls upon the federal governments to enforce the Boundary Waters Treaty due to  ongoing and threatened pollution from B.C. mines, the U.S. Department of State and Global Affairs Canada have yet to honor their mutual obligations to protect our shared transboundary watersheds and establish a binational process that involves Tribes and First Nations.

Watch the recording of an unprecedented dialogue between members of the U.S.-Canada International Joint Commission, Indigenous Leadership, and key stakeholders on U.S./B.C. transboundary watersheds and the threats they face from large-scale B.C. mines.
Tell the B.C. government - NO MORE toxic mine waste dams! 

Meet the Panelists 

This digital panel was the first time this group of Indigenous leaders connected across border and state lines regarding pollution from B.C.’s large-scale mines at the headwaters of rivers that flow into the United States (U.S).

IJC Commissioner Merrell-Ann Phare
Merrell-Ann Phare is a lawyer, writer, strategist, negotiator and relationship-builder who worked extensively in and with indigenous organizations on environmental, land, water, rights and governance issues. She, along with 10 First Nation Chiefs, was the founding Executive Director of the Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources (CIER), a national First Nation charitable environmental organisation. She resides in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

IJC Commissioner Rob Sisson 
Robert Sisson has been involved with the environmental organization ConservAmerica since 2006, where he has served as president since 2011, and more recently was appointed by Michigan Governor Rick Snyder to the state’s Environmental Justice Working Group in 2017. Sisson lives in Bozeman, Montana.

President Richard Peterson, Central Council Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska 
Richard (Chalyee Éesh) Peterson is Tlingit from the Kaagwaantaan clan. He grew up in Kasaan, Alaska and is a lifelong Alaska Native resident of Southeast Alaska. Prior to being elected as President of the Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska (Tlingit & Haida) in 2014, Richard served as Chief Executive Officer of Prince of Wales Tribal Enterprise Consortium, LLC (POWTEC), President of the Organized Village of Kasaan (OVK), Mayor/City Council Member for the City of Kasaan, and member of the Southeast Island School District Board of Education.

Chairwoman Shelly Fyant, Confederated Salish Kootenai Tribe of Montana
Shelly Fyant was elected as the Chairwoman of the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes in January 2020. She previously served a four year term on Tribal Council and served as Secretary. She has four adult sons, six granddaughters, one grandson and a great granddaughter. Her passion is Food Sovereignty and she is active in the MMIP movement.

Chairman Gary Aitken Jr., Kootenai Tribe of Idaho
Gary Aitken Jr. is Chairman of the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho.
"Recognizing that all things are connected has led to the Kootenai Tribe being innovators in ecosystem recovery. The holistic approach that comes natural to our people has provided a clear path forward in our species restoration efforts. We, as a Tribe, are proud of the remarkable ecosystem work we have been able to accomplish." – Gary Aitken Jr. 

Chairwoman Kathryn Teneese, Ktunaxa Nation
Ms. Kathryn Teneese is the Ktunaxa Nation Chair as well as Chief Negotiator for the ongoing treaty negotiations with Canada and British Columbia. Ms. Teneese’s active participation in public service began in the late 1960’s at the Columbia Lake Band (now known as the Akisq’nuk First Nation) as a Band Councillor and Band Manager, and then later as the Area Coordinator for the organization now known as the Ktunaxa Nation Council.

Allen Edzerza, First Nations Energy and Mining Council 
Allen is currently leading mining reform discussions with the Government of British Columbia on behalf of the First Nation Energy and Mining Council. Allen worked with the Gordon Foundation to develop an IBA Community Toolkit and assisted in conducting workshops with First Nations on the IBA Community Toolkit across Canada. Allen was appointed to the Office of the Premier, Government of British Columbia as Special Advisor on Aboriginal issues.  Allen is a member of the Tahltan Nation and a recognized artist with works in several major collections.

Tis Peterman, Southeast Alaska Indigenous Transboundary Commission 
Tis Peterman is a lifelong resident of Wrangell, Alaska situated at the mouth of the Stikine River.  She is Tlingit, of the Raven moiety and is a Kaa.chadi clan member.  She is the great granddaughter of Chief Shakes VII.Tis has spent most of her career working for non-profits and tribal governments.  She is currently employed as executive director for the Southeast Alaska Indigenous Transboundary Commission, a position that she has held for three years.

Erin Sexton, University of Montana Flathead Lake Biological Station
Erin is a Senior Research Scientist with the Flathead Lake Biological Station, at the University of Montana. Erin’s research focus includes transboundary rivers between the US and Canada, with an emphasis on aquatic ecology and conservation biology, in our shared transboundary watersheds, between British Columbia, Alberta and Montana. Erin is involved in coordinating cross-border research, assessment of mining impacts and ecological condition and the application of science to environmental decision-making. Erin lives in NW Montana with her family.

Jill Weitz, Salmon Beyond Borders
Salmon Beyond Borders campaign director Jill Weitz loves living in the Tongass National Forest of Southeast Alaska, where Juneau has been her home for more than a decade. Jill’s interests involve water, from the mountain tops and wild rivers to frozen hockey rinks. She’s worked in Southeast Alaska communities as an AmeriCorps member, from Prudhoe Bay to Ketchikan as a Compliance and Enforcement Officer for the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, and has worked in communities throughout the Alaska/British Columbia transboundary region for the last six years. 

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