April 23, 2026: AB Branch: Water is Life: Collaborative Partnerships for Indigenous Water Stewardship in Alberta’s Boreal Region – A Case Study

Date: Thursday, April 23, 2026 – 12 pm MNT

Topic: Water is Life: Collaborative Partnerships for Indigenous Water Stewardship in Alberta’s Boreal Region – A Case Study

Speakers: Fabian Grey and Zoey Wang

Description:

Water holds profound cultural and spiritual significance for Indigenous communities across Alberta. Whitefish Lake First Nation #459 is a northern boreal community situated within the Peace and Athabasca oil sands regions and in an area of forestry development. This case study highlights how collaborative partnerships can support Indigenous-led water stewardship in the boreal region.

From 2017 and 2020, Whitefish Lake First Nation partnered with researchers and Alberta Environment and Protected Areas staff to monitor water quality in Utikumasis and Utikuma Lakes. Recognizing that water connects all ecosystem elements, Whitefish Lake First Nation has since expanded monitoring efforts to include wildlife, traditional plants, lake habitat, and fish health. These efforts continue through collaborative partnerships with a diverse network of researchers and organizations. This work highlights how community-based approaches can deepen understanding of ecosystem health while supporting the development of resilient community-based monitoring programs and enhancing Indigenous water stewardship capacity.

In this presentation, Fabian Grey, Consultation Manager, Whitefish Lake First Nation #459 and Zoey Wang, Community-Based Monitoring Program Coordinator, Alberta Environment and Protected Areas will share insights on how collaborative partnerships and diverse knowledge systems contribute to a deeper collective understanding of ecosystem health. Their reflections underscore Whitefish Lake First Nation’s strengthened capacity for Indigenous water stewardship in an era of environmental change.