‘Modernize the Columbia River Treaty,’ Religious Leaders Urge U.S. and Canada

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The Columbia River treaty needs to be modernized, religious and indigenous leaders in the Northwest and British Columbia say. (Via Washington State Catholic Conference)

Read more at http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2014/10/09/modernize-columbia-river-treaty-religious-leaders-urge-us-and-canada-157268

ICTMN Staff
10/9/14

Religious leaders are adding their voices to the indigenous call for modernization of the Columbia River Treaty, which is up for renegotiation.

The 1964 agreement, signed by the U.S. and Canada to enable mutual energy production and flood control, contains provisions for alteration should the need arise, and many now say that the time has come.

Last December tribal leaders expressed satisfaction with a draft recommendation on a starting point for negotiations that was sent to the U.S. Senate. But now, they and religious leaders say, it must be put into action. With 10 years’ written notice needed for changes to take effect, the earliest anything will change would be 2024, they point out—provided the work is completed this year.

On September 23, religious and indigenous leaders issued an open letter U.S. President Barack Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper to move the treaty up the priority list. Signed by 14 religious leaders and seven indigenous leaders representing nearly all tribes and First Nations in the Columbia Basin, the letter outlined a Declaration on Ethics and modernizing the Columbia River Treaty as a foundation for international negotiations.

http://blog.gov.bc.ca/columbiarivertreaty/history/

http://www.ccrh.org/comm/river/docs/cotreaty.htm

http://www.waterplanet.ws/pdf/Declaration_Columbia-River-Treaty.pdf

http://www.critfc.org/member_tribes_overview/

http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2014/10/09/modernize-columbia-river-treaty-religious-leaders-urge-us-and-canada-157268