All of the Water That is in Our Reserves and That is in Our Territories is Ours

RESEARCH QUESTIONS In light of these points and shifts underway, it is critical to give attention to the complex histories and interactions of Indigenous and colonial water governance in BC, and to better understand the existing barriers and opportunities in water governance for First Nations. [...] The term colonial water governance refers to systems of is absorbed, decisions are made and implemented, water governance implemented by colonial governments and decision makers are held accountable in the in Canada, understood here as: “The range of political, development and management of water resources and organizational and administrative processes through delivery of water services” (Bakker [...] The Winters doctrine affirmed that tribal water rights were assigned at the time of reserve creation, and that reserve water rights were flexible, unquantified, and encompassed future tribal reserve water needs.1 “The “First in Time, First in Right” system of water allocation does not consider the inherent rights that Lower Similkameen Indian Band have in regard to the use and management of waters