The Columbia River Treaty

A myriad of First Nations on either side of the border like the Secwépemc (Shuswap) and Ktunaxa (Akisqnuk) have had deep seeded roots to the Columbia River for thousands of years, long before the Treaty attached to it ever became a notion. What is the Columbia River Treaty? The Columbia River Treaty is a water management agreement that was implemented in 1964 between the United States and Canada and is well-respected internationally.

The reason behind this Treaty was the disastrous flood of 1948 that cost many lives and caused devastation to Oregon’s City of Vanport. Four dams were constructed from the get-go under this Treaty with many more to follow throughout the Columbia’s watershed. Over 60 in fact, more than any other river. As a part of it, Canada agreed on the building of the first three dams in British Columbia: the Duncan, Hugh L. Keenleyside, and the Mica. The fourth dam, the Libby, was built by the U.S. in Montana and floods into Canada.

While there were a lot of big wins that came from the Columbia River Treaty and these dams such as flood control, and all the hydroelectricity they generate, it has created even greater losses. This Treaty displaced thousands of residents, and First Nations of the areas, ripping them from their homeland, while forcing them on to reserves. Dams, and reservoirs constructed inundated more than 110,000 hectares (270,000 acres) of Canadian ecosystems.

Since its development it has had negative impacts on farms, infrastructure, tourism, and forestry. With more dams than any river in North America, when the Columbia River Treaty was first written, little thought was given to the impacts it would have on the ecosystem and on the water quality, its fish, and local wildlife.

All the dams and culverts that stem from this Treaty have had a direct effect on the number of salmon that are able to swim up into areas off the Columbia River that used to be plentiful. Right now, Shuswap Band Councillor Tim Eugene is part of a group of members working on the Columbia River treaty.

“What we are going to be bringing back is the salmon,” says Shuswap Band Councillor Tim Eugene. “We haven’t had salmon for eighty-two years now. There used to be salmon in the Columbia River just down at Athalmer, that was our fishing grounds''. The First Nations of the land as well as the public were not consulted when this Treaty first came into play, and hurt feelings remain strong to this day.

In 1964, the U.S. prepaid Canada $64 million to ensure these flood control operations would be provided, with a reduction of flood damage and the safety of U.S. citizens to be a priority. That 60 years is almost up. Over the years, with the ebbs, and flows of populations there has been changes to the consumption of electricity along the Columbia River, these changes alone force officials to reevaluate the Columbia River Treaty as negotiations for it arise in 2024.

More importantly, there are now consultation, and accommodation requirements in place to ensure that the voices of the Indigenous people are heard regarding their resources, and territories going forward. As we get closer to the year 2024, groups like the Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA) and the Columbia River Intertribal Fish Commission (CRITFC) through their websites, and Facebook page have already began educating the public on their rights as Indigenous people, as well as their expectations on the Columbia River going forward.

The Columbia Treaty doesn’t have an end date per say, but it can be terminated by either country as of Sept. 2024 or onwards, if 10 years notice is given. According to the British Columbia government website. talks about whether to terminate this Treaty will occur post-2024. Shuswap Band Councillor Tim Eugene is a part of Columbia Collaborative, a group made up of six different Indigenous Bands, including Adam’s Lake, Little Shuswap, and Splatsin, that will have a say on the Columbia River Treaty.

“We are still looking for an Indigenous name for it. These bands are going to be determining what’s going on with the Columbia River Treaty. That’s what we’re doing on the Shuswap Band governor’s level. We’re getting all this organized because we feel we should be the ones making decisions on the Columbia River. says Shuswap Band Councillor Tim Eugene. “We feel really connected to it, and we really feel the need to gain a better understanding of it.”

Come Sept. 2024 there will be a lot of discussions between both countries regarding the Columbia River Treaty; this time including the input of First Nations to determine its future, or lack of one.

Chadd Cawson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Columbia Valley Pioneer