Northern Voices, Northern Waters: The NWT Water Stewardship Strategy (Water Strategy) and its Action Plans (NWT Water Stewardship: A Plan for Action, 2011-2015, NWT Water Stewardship Strategy: Action Plan 2016-2020 and NWT Water Stewardship Strategy: Action Plan 2021-2025) were developed collaboratively by water partners in the Northwest Territories (NWT).

NWT Water Strategy Roles and Responsibilities: Summary of Water Partners’ Responsibilities in the Action Plan 2016-2020 is a compilation of water partners’ Action Plan responsibilities and this document addresses Action Item 1.1 B by summarizing lead, co-lead and supporting water partners’ roles and responsibilities for the 2016-2020 Action Plan. 

Below is a list of Water Strategy partners and links for more information. 

Akaitcho Territory Government

Indigenous governments, such as the Akaitcho Territory Government, play an active role in ensuring their traditional territory is well stewarded and that obligations under treaties and land, resource and self-government agreements are fulfilled. For more information please visit http://akaitcho.ca/

Aurora College

Aurora College provides campus and community-based learning opportunities to train future water leaders for careers in water resource management and community-based monitoring. The Environment and Natural Resources Technology diploma program is also a springboard to further studies, equivalent to the first two years of many Bachelor of Science programs. This responsibility is linked to a broader Water Strategy goal to increase local capacity, technical skills and knowledge in water management, and research and monitoring activities. For more information please visit: http://www.auroracollege.nt.ca

 

Aurora Research Institute

The Aurora Research Institute (ARI) is a co-lead partner on Water Strategy implementation and supports technical experts and researchers to present relevant water information to NWT communities. ARI helps communicate Water Strategy research priorities to academic institutions. For more information please visit: http://nwtresearch.com/

Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society

 

The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society NWT Chapter (CPAWS-NWT) works closely with Indigenous, territorial and federal governments, NWT communities, industry and non-governmental organizations to carry out water, land and wildlife conservation planning and stewardship initiatives in the NWT. These efforts support implementation activities under the Work Together component of the Water Strategy. For more information please visit https://cpawsnwt.org/our-work/

Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC)

 

For more information please visit https://www.canada.ca/en/crown-indigenous-relations-northern-affairs.html

Dechinta Centre for Research and Learning

 

As a co-lead partner with Aurora College, Dechinta promotes ongoing local and distance learning opportunities for community-based water monitors and future water leaders. For more information please visit https://www.dechinta.ca/

Dehcho Aboriginal Aquatic Resource and Oceans Management Program

The Aboriginal Aquatic Resource and Oceans Management(AAROM) program is intended to build capacity for aquatic resource management in regions where Fisheries and Oceans Canada manages the fisheries. For example, the Dehcho region has an AAROM-funded biologist and technician and community-based monitoring in all communities. The AAROM program stems from the Aboriginal Fisheries Strategy and is funded by Fisheries and Oceans Canada. For more information please click here: 

https://dehcho.org/resource-management/dehcho-aarom/

 

Dehcho First Nations

 

Indigenous governments, such as Dehcho First Nations, play an active role in ensuring their traditional territory is well stewarded and that obligations under treaties and land, resource and self-government agreements are fulfilled. For more information please click here: https://dehcho.org/

Department of Executive and Indigenous Affairs (GNWT)

 

For more information visit https://www.eia.gov.nt.ca/en

Ducks Unlimited Canada

 

Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) works with the NWT Centre for Geomatics to advance the development of a wetland inventory approach using remote sensing. DUC will also be leading an initiative to test the wetland inventory approach at pilot sites. These efforts contribute to broader DUC goals of helping address identified science and knowledge gaps related to wetlands and the environment, and advancing wetland, watershed and ecosystem-based approaches in the NWT. For more information please visit https://www.ducks.ca/

Ecology North

Ecology North provides ongoing educational programs and workshops about water and water treatment in the NWT. Ecology North works with ECC to do research and educate residents on the costs of imported bottled water versus tap water in the NWT. Ecology North also works with ECC to support youth initiatives in water stewardship. For more information please visit http://ecologynorth.ca/

Environment and Climate Change (GNWT)

 

ECC leads or co-leads 119 Action Items under the four components of the Water Strategy. ECC has responsibilities linked to all Keys to Success. Please see the 2016-2020 Action Plan for the detailed Action Items towards which ECC is working. For more information please visit https://www.ecc.gov.nt.ca/en/services/water-management-and-monitoring

Environment and Climate Change Canada

 

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) is a co-lead partner working with ECC to identify, prioritize and address water quality and quantity monitoring gaps. ECCC also works with ECC to maintain and enhance water quality and quantity monitoring networks in the NWT through ongoing monitoring agreements and partnerships. For more information please visit https://wateroffice.ec.gc.ca/

Environmental Impact Screening Committee Inuvialuit

 

 

For more information please visit http://www.screeningcommittee.ca/

 

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has the lead federal role in managing Canada’s fisheries and safeguarding its waters. The Department supports strong economic growth in marine and fisheries sectors; supports innovation through research; and contributes to a clean and healthy environment and sustainable aquatic ecosystems through habitat protection, oceans management, and ecosystems research. These efforts support implementation activities under the Know and Plan component of the Water Strategy. For more information please visit http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/index-eng.htm

Gwich’in Land and Water Board

For more information please visit https://glwb.com/

Gwich’in Renewable Resources Board

For more information please visit http://www.grrb.nt.ca/

Gwich’in Tribal Council

Indigenous governments, such as the Gwich'in Tribal Council, play an active role in ensuring their traditional territory is well stewarded and that obligations under treaties and land, resource and self-government agreements are fulfilled. For more information please visit https://gwichintribal.ca/

Health and Social Services (GNWT)

For more information please visit https://www.hss.gov.nt.ca/en

Industry, Tourism and Investment (GNWT)

For more information please visit https://www.iti.gov.nt.ca/en

Infrastructure (GNWT)

For more information please visit https://www.inf.gov.nt.ca/en

Inuvialuit Game Council

For more information please visit https://www.jointsecretariat.ca/inuvialuit-game-council

 

Inuvialuit Regional Corporation

Indigenous governments, such as the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, play an active role in ensuring their traditional territory is well stewarded and that obligations under treaties and land, resource and self-government agreements are fulfilled. For more information please visit https://www.irc.inuvialuit.com/

 

Inuvialuit Water Board (IWB)

 

The Inuvialuit Water Board's (IWB) work is primarily tied to the Use Responsibly component of the Water Strategy. These activities include working with various water partners (ECC, MACA, Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board, and Lands) on a number of Action Items: improve municipal waste and wastewater systems in the NWT; improve municipal water licence compliance through improved communication, support and training; increase clarity of water use, waste and wastewater regulatory processes; improve understandings of industrial water licence compliance; and review and develop guidelines and regulations to clarify the existing regulatory and environmental assessment processes.

Under the Work Together component of the Strategy, the IWB also works with ECC to improve data collection and data and information management for water and related monitoring programs. Priority activities related to this work include: establishing standardized water quality sampling protocols; standardizing quality assurance and quality control protocols; developing metadata guidelines; and establishing a licensed water use inventory.

Although a longer-term initiative, the IWB is also a lead partner for establishing a protocol to store, manage and report data from Surveillance Network Program (SNP) sites. For more information visit https://www.inuvwb.ca/

Lands (GNWT)

For more information visit https://www.lands.gov.nt.ca/en

Local Government Administrators of Northwest Territories (LGANT)

For more information please visit http://www.lgant.com/

Mackenzie River Basin Board

The Mackenzie River Basin Board (MRBB) works with the University of Alberta and ECC to carry out the Tracking Change research project. The project is funded until 2020 and is aimed at supporting traditional and local knowledge research to better understand social and ecological changes in the Mackenzie River Basin. For more information please visit https://www.mrbb.ca/

Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board

The Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board (MVEIRB) conducts environmental assessments and impact reviews of proposed developments to carefully consider impacts on the environment, and social, cultural, and economic well-being, before developments proceed. As part of the environmental assessment process, ECC and other parties provide evidence to the MVEIRB. This evidence helps to inform the MVEIRB evaluation of potential cumulative and project-specific impacts on aquatic ecosystems. MVEIRB Reports of Environmental Assessment and Reasons for Decision explain how cumulative and project-specific impacts are considered in the Board’s decisions. MVEIRB Water Strategy activities also include working with ECC and the LWBs/IWB to continue to improve clarity and understanding of regulatory processes for water use, waste, and wastewater through resource management workshops, developing guidelines and other outreach activities. For more information please visit http://reviewboard.ca/

Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board

The Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board's (MVLWB) work is primarily tied to the Use Responsibly component of the Water Strategy. These activities include working with various water partners (ECC, MACA, Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board, and Lands) on a number of Action Items: improve municipal waste and wastewater systems in the NWT; improve municipal water licence compliance through improved communication, support and training; increase clarity of water use, waste and wastewater regulatory processes; improve understandings of industrial water licence compliance; and review and develop guidelines and regulations to clarify the existing regulatory and environmental assessment processes.

Under the Work Together component of the Strategy, the MVLWB also works with ECC to improve data collection and data and information management for water and related monitoring programs. Priority activities related to this work include: establishing standardized water quality sampling protocols; standardizing quality assurance and quality control protocols; developing metadata guidelines; and establishing a licensed water use inventory.

Although a longer-term initiative, the MVLWB is also a lead partner for establishing a protocol to store, manage and report data from Surveillance Network Program (SNP) sites. For more information please visit https://mvlwb.com/

Municipal and Community Affairs (GNWT)

The Department of Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA) works on several Water Strategy Action Items under the Use Responsibly component of the Strategy. These include: working with HSS to maintain the public drinking water database; working with the Department of Infrastructure to complete water treatment plant upgrades; working with land and water boards and ECC to implement NWT Guidelines for Municipal Landfills; and collaborating with ECC to identify ways to enhance community waste infrastructure. MACA lead responsibilities in the Action Plan are to maintain the Circuit Rider Water Treatment Operator Training Program, upgrade remote monitoring of drinking water parameters and update the Good Engineering Practices for Northern Water and Sewage Systems. For more information please visit https://www.maca.gov.nt.ca/en

North Slave Métis Alliance

Indigenous governments, such as the North Slave Métis Alliance, play an active role in ensuring their traditional territory is well stewarded and that obligations under treaties and land, resource and self-government agreements are fulfilled. For more information please visit https://nsma.net/

Northwest Territory Métis Nation

Indigenous governments, such as the Northwest Territory Métis Nation, play an active role in ensuring their traditional territory is well stewarded and that obligations under treaties and land, resource and self-government agreements are fulfilled. For more information please visit http://nwtmetisnation.ca/

NWT & Nunavut Chamber of Mines

For more information please visit http://www.miningnorth.com/

NWT Association of Communities (NWTAC)

For more information please visit http://www.nwtac.com/

NWT Centre for Geomatics (GNWT)

The NWT Centre for Geomatics leads and co-leads Action Items under the Know and Plan component of the Water Strategy. The NWT Centre for Geomatics works with Ducks Unlimited Canada to advance the establishment of a wetland inventory approach. With the support of ECC, NWT Centre for Geomatics is also working to complete the transfer of Climate Impacts Tracking Analysis System to the NWT Centre for Geomatics. The NWT Centre for Geomatics is also making ongoing improvements to the existing digital elevation model as new data are acquired. For more information please visit http://www.geomatics.gov.nt.ca/

NWT Communities

More about communities in the NWT https://www.maca.gov.nt.ca/en/communitylist

NWT Municipal Governments

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_municipalities_in_the_Northwest_Te...

NWT Protected Areas Strategy

For more information visit http://cpawsnwt.org/campaigns/nwt-protected-areas-strategy

Parks Canada (GOC)

Parks Canada Agency (PCA) works with its partners, including Indigenous governments in proximity to parks, federal, provincial and territorial departments and agencies, to address water quality and quantity monitoring gaps. PCA strives to use both traditional and local knowledge and western science-based knowledge in their monitoring activities, which include addressing changes resulting from cumulative regional development and climate change in parks. These efforts support implementation activities under the Work Together and Know and Plan components of the Water Strategy. For more information please visit https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/index

Pembina Institute

For more information please visit https://www.pembina.org/

Sahtù Renewable Resource Board

The Sahtù Renewable Resource Board is the lead partner establishing traditional knowledge research guidelines for the Sahtù region. For more information please visit http://www.srrb.nt.ca/

Tides Canada

Tides Canada supports NWT Water Strategy implementation by promoting and funding intergenerational on-the-land water education/leadership camps as a way of involving communities in monitoring and research. For more information visit https://tidescanada.org/

Tłı̨chǫ Government

Indigenous governments, such as the Tłı̨chǫ Government, play an active role in ensuring their traditional territory is well stewarded and that obligations under treaties and land, resource and self-government agreements are fulfilled. For more information please visit https://www.tlicho.ca/

Trent University

Trent University collaborates with various partners, including other academic partners, Indigenous governments and organizations, and ECC, to support community-based aquatic monitoring activities through the Slave River and Delta Partnership. Trent University also supports the development of source water protection plans by NWT communities and helps build local capacity for water treatment plant operators  For more information https://www.trentu.ca/  

University of Alberta

The University of Alberta – collaborates with various partners, including other academic partners, Indigenous governments and organizations, and ECC, to support community-based aquatic monitoring activities through the Slave River and Delta Partnership. The University of Alberta also leads the Tracking Change research project. For more information please visit http://www.trackingchange.ca/

University of Saskatchewan

The University of Saskatchewan collaborates with many partners, including other academic partners, the Slave River and Delta Partnership and ECC, to undertake research on knowledge mobilization and aquatic environmental indicators in the Slave River and Delta watershed and beyond. For more information please visit https://www.usask.ca/ 

 

University of Waterloo

The University of Waterloo collaborates with various partners, including other academic partners, Indigenous governments and organizations, and ECC, to support groundwater baseline data acquisition in the Sahtú region, and community-based aquatic monitoring activities in the Slave River watershed. For more information visit https://uwaterloo.ca/

Wek’èezhìi Land and Water Board

For more information visit https://wlwb.ca/

Wek’èezhìi Renewable Resources Board

The Wekʼèezhìi Renewable Resources Board (WRRB) is a wildlife co-management authority established by the Tłı̨chǫ Agreement. WRRB manages wildlife, plants, forests and protected areas within Wek’èezhìı through the use of traditional and scientific knowledge, helping to support implementation of the Work Together component of the Water Strategy. For more information please visit https://www.wrrb.ca/

Wilfrid Laurier University

Wilfrid Laurier University (WLU) works with ECC on Water Strategy implementation through a ten-year partnership agreement (2010- 2020) to undertake various water-related research projects to better understand the impacts of climate change and development on aquatic ecosystems. For more information please visit https://www.wlu.ca/academics/research/research-centres/centre-for-cold-regions-and-water-science.html