Our Story

We are the only Indigenous water protection organization working at the watershed level within the Arctic Basin.  For 20 years, Keepers of the Water has been building a network of committed individuals,  connecting Indigenous leadership, community knowledge, land-based observation, independent research, and public action to protect the interconnected rivers, lakes, and streams from the Rocky Mountains to the Arctic Ocean. 

This is our Story

The story of Keepers of the Water begins not with a policy or a protest, but with a whisper from the past, Traditional Knowledge, carried on the breath of a Community Leader. "Water is life," Cleo Reece, now one of our Wisdom Councillors, reminded us in a quiet moment of reflection. "Without water, we would not exist." 

She recalled a teaching that linked the very presence of the moose to the purity of the streams, illustrating a truth that would soon become the heartbeat of our organization: everything in nature is interconnected.

These words inspired a ripple that would spread across the Peace-Athabasca-Slave-Deh Cho river systems between 2006 and 2008, crystallizing into three foundational resolutions that still guide the Keepers of the Water today.

On the shores of the Deh Cho River in Liidlii Kųę (Fort Simpson), Northwest Territories, a gathering came together in September 2006.  Here, amidst growing alarms of declining water quality, decreasing water levels, and increasing turbidity and toxicity in the Mackenzie River Basin, Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and community members gathered. From their concern rose the Keepers of the Water Declaration. It was a profound statement of values, asserting that water is a sacred gift, not a commodity to be bought or sold. It established a shared commitment to work together as a regional group and protect water for all living things, today and for generations yet to come.

The momentum quickly continued. Just a year later, in September 2007, the network expanded with a convergence in Fort St. John, British Columbia, with a conference titled “Keepers of the Peace’ to discuss similar concerns for the Peace - Athabasca Basin.  Building on the foundation laid in Fort Simpson, new network participants unanimously adopted the Keepers of the Water II Resolution, committing to creating another regionally based chapter and encouraging the creation of numerous local Keeper groups from the Peace to the Hay rivers, and dreaming of a Canada-wide network united by the love of water.

By 2008, the network moved to Fort Chipewyan, Alberta, for Keepers of the Water III gathering. Here, the circle widened to include the vital voices of Youth alongside the Elders. Participants reviewed the outcomes of the past gatherings and recognized that the time for vision had passed; the time for implementation had arrived. In a powerful reaffirmation of our sacred relationship with the territory—rights protected under Section 35 of the Constitution Act; they adopted the third "Water is Boss" Elders and Youth Resolution.

This final resolution was a declaration of urgency and leadership. It celebrated the early successes of the Keepers of the Athabasca and the Keepers of the Water Saskatchewan, proving that the declaration could be lived, not just spoken. But above all, it crystallized a core value of the network: water is not merely sacred; it is the boss. it is the foundation of all life and must guide every decision affecting the lands, waters, and future generations.

From the teachings of Traditional Knowledge to a unified network spanning watersheds, these resolutions are more than documents. They are the relational underpinnings that continue to nourish the growth of the Keepers of the Water network today. 

Our Commitment Today

Since these formative gatherings, Keepers of the Water has continued to stand alongside Indigenous Nations, Métis communities, Elders, youth, researchers, environmental organizations, and governments to elevate concerns about decisions affecting water—from industrial development and government policy  to climate change and watershed protection - and advocate for solutions that are rooted in community priorities. 

As climate change accelerates and pressures on freshwater increase, Keepers of the Water remains committed to ensuring that Water has a voice and is protected. 

Water is the source of all life. Elders have long taught that every plant, animal, and person depends on clean water to survive. Access to safe, clean drinking water is a fundamental human right, and every person should have sufficient water to meet their essential needs