WFN REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE COLUMBIA RIVER TREATY LIAISON COMMITTEE - MEMBERSHIP OPPORTUNITY

Westbank First Nation (WFN) Council is currently requesting expressions of interest for an opportunity to represent WFN at the Columbia River Treaty Liaison Committee. This seat was previously represented by Chief Christopher Derickson, however has since been determined to be offered to the community to encourage greater participation and awareness of this important matter.

The CRT is a transboundary industrial water storage treaty that has two major components: holding back 15.5 million acres/feet (approx. 7.75 million Olympic size swimming pools) of water for flood control, while also optimizing hydroelectric energy production in the Columbia watershed every year. This storage of water has an estimated annual value of $150-200 million revenue for the Government of Canada, the majority of which goes to the Province of British Columbia annually

The Syilx Okanagan Nation has asserted that the Columbia River Treaty negotiations must extend far beyond flood control and hydro-electric production, and that cultural values and ecosystem function must be taken into account in CRT dam operations and impacts.

Please email all expressions of interest to the Office of Council at officeofcouncil@wfn.ca or submit to the Government Office reception at 201-515 Highway 97 South by June 10, 2021

For further information on this opportunity, please contact Chief Derickson through his Executive Assistant, Adrianna Tournat, at atournat@wfn.ca or 250-769-4999.