Settler-colonization and urbanization have long impacted waters and fish throughout Tsartlip’s territory. Now, thanks to the Raincoast Conservation Foundation’s “Healthy Waters” initiative – a “community-oriented water pollution monitoring system” – Tsartlip will partner with the W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council (WLC) to protect community waters in a brand-new way.
(shown above, Tsartlip’s shoreline)
Raincoast is an established nonprofit organization working to protect the lands, waters, and fauna of coastal British Columbia by collecting and presenting scientific data to relevant decision-makers and communities. Raincoast launched the “Healthy Waters” project in response to the inadequate systems monitoring pollution in the waterways of BC.
Raincoast received $250,000 from the Capital Regional District (CRD) specifically to support a Healthy Waters project within the Tod Creek watershed and sought a partnership with Tsartlip and WLC to carry out the project. Tsartlip Chief and Council unanimously agreed and signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) establishing a partnership in this initiative on November 14th, 2023. Tsartlip is just one of many organizations partnering with Raincoast to carry out Healthy Waters projects. Other partners include organizations such as the Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance, S’ólh Téméxw Stewardship Alliance, Parks Canada, Metro Vancouver, and DFO.
This type of initiative is much needed as Tsartlip and other W̱SÁNEĆ communities work to neutralize the environmental impacts of settler colonization and urbanization. Historically, Federal and provincial administrations have not consulted with W̱SÁNEĆ communities regarding geographical changes like establishing the Hartland landfill, resulting in damage to historically and culturally important natural features like the Tod Creek watershed. In light of the completion of the McLoughlin Point Wastewater Treatment Plant in 2020, concerns linger regarding biosolids deposited at the Hartland Landfill as well as the presence of persistent contaminants.
The partnership will make the impact of projects like the Hartland landfill clear by conducting comprehensive water quality testing in the area and creating a shareable dataset for communities to compare and learn from each other’s experiences. The Project additionally plans to develop a data visualization tool akin to PollutionTracker.org, to foster a sense of collaboration and shared responsibility for environmental stewardship. Further, the partners will use the results of the project to inform planning, identify sources of pollution, identify sources of contaminants, and to conduct a risk-based evaluation of the Tod Creek watershed.
According to the MOU, Tsartlip and the W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council will play an integral role in carrying out the project, and the project will specifically further several of Tsartlip’s interests, including:
- Identifying “water testing locations that will best research places with cultural and environmental interests of the W̱SÁNEĆ.”
- Working “with Raincoast to collect and test water samples from selected sites at agreed-upon times.”
- Identifying “contaminants and if possible trace contaminants to the source of pollution.”
- Working “with the WLC to advocate for a change in behavior to prevent further contamination.”
Importantly, Raincoast also agreed to ensure activities conducted under the agreement “comply with W̱SÁNEĆ laws, customs, and policies.”
Tsartlip is proud to be a part of this project and looks forward to leveraging community-driven environmental conservation, utilizing scientific expertise, Indigenous knowledge, and community engagement to assess and address water quality issues in the Tod Creek watershed and beyond.
