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Government of Canada and Ktunaxa Nation launch an approach to distribute $58 million for environmental projects in the Kootenay Region of British Columbia

Press Release

From: Environment and Climate Change Canada

March 13, 2025

The Government of Canada is committed to conserving and protecting Canada’s natural biodiversity and supporting the leadership of Indigenous peoples to help conserve ecosystems, protect Indigenous cultures, and develop sustainable economies for future generations.

Today, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, announced that the Government of Canada and the Ktunaxa Nation are advancing a co developed approach to allocate $58 million in funding to deliver projects that restore, enhance, and conserve fish and fish habitat in British Columbia’s Kootenay Region, focused on benefiting Qukin ʔamakʔis (Elk Valley). The funding comes from a 2021 landmark penalty paid by Teck Coal Limited to the Government of Canada’s Environmental Damages Fund.

This approach includes non-competitive, project-based funding of up to $30 million for Ktunaxa First Nations and Ktunaxa Nation Council, as well as up to $6 million each available for other Kootenay Region First Nations, namely, Shuswap Band and Okanagan Nation Alliance. This funding will support the communities’ ability to deliver projects that enhance, restore, or conserve fish or fish habitat. It will also be used to carry out research and development to improve the understanding of issues related to the enhancement, conservation, or restoration of fish or fish habitat.

In addition, $16 million will be available to fund projects through an open, competitive call for applications co-developed by Environment and Climate Change Canada and the Ktunaxa Nation.

Quotes

“The Government of Canada is committed to working with First Nations through meaningful collaboration rooted in the spirit of partnership and principles of reconciliation. This partnership with Ktunaxa is a significant and novel milestone, showcasing federal collaboration with an Indigenous Nation to distribute funding through the Environmental Damages Fund. This collaboration recognizes the importance of traditional knowledge and expertise in caring for the interconnected ecosystem of Qukin ʔamakʔis.”
– The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change

“This partnership recognizes the Ktunaxa Nation’s stewardship of Qukin ʔamakʔis. It’s a first, and it brings the spirit of reconciliation alive in action. We value being able to work together as true partners to protect the land, water, and all living beings in our territory.”
– Kathryn Teneese, Chair, Ktunaxa Nation Council

“We have the opportunity now to guide the direction, to lead, and to collaborate with all of those who want to be a part of the solution to fix our waterways and heal what has been damaged. As ʔakanuxunik’, we have an inherent responsibility to be a part of the process that’s going to heal our water and to heal our lands.”
– Nasuʔkin Heidi Gravelle, Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡi’it

“This funding is a step toward redressing the impacts of mining on Qukin ʔamakʔis, restoring our fish habitats, and healing the land for future generations.”
– Nasuʔkin Cheryl Casimer, ʔaq̓am

“The Environmental Damages Fund will support environmental remediation efforts that mitigate impacts to ʔamakʔis Ktunaxa, aligning with our traditional stewardship values as Ktunaxa people.”
– Nasuʔkin Donald Sam, ʔakisq̓nuk

Quick facts

  • The call for applications will be administered through the Government of Canada’s Environmental Damages Fund. Applications will be jointly reviewed by Environment and Climate Change Canada and Ktunaxa representatives to ensure that projects chosen to receive funding maximize environmental benefits and align with Ktunaxa stewardship values and principles. First Nations may choose to advance projects independently or in collaboration with partners.
  • To support the Ktunaxa Nation’s full participation in the joint review of the call for applications, and to advance the development of Ktunaxa-led projects, up to $3.25 million of the $30-million allocation will be made available to Ktunaxa First Nations and the Ktunaxa Nation Council to support administrative and technical capacity within their organizations.
  • Qukin ʔamakʔis (Elk Valley) is located in ʔamakʔis Ktunaxa (Ktunaxa homelands). It is an area of conservation significance with important flora and fauna and is a critical north-south corridor for animal migration.
  • The environmental infraction was in Qukin ʔamakʔis (Elk Valley) in ʔamakʔis Ktunaxa (Ktunaxa homelands). Recognizing the impacts to the Ktunaxa, the mechanism for allocating the funding in Qukin ʔamakʔis has been developed collaboratively with Ktunaxa. Funding will be disbursed in a manner that advances Environment and Climate Change Canada’s and Ktunaxa’s shared priorities and interests and ensures strong results that benefit the environment.
  • The Teck Coal Limited penalty is the highest ever imposed for pollution in violation of the Fisheries Act, and the second largest award directed to the Environmental Damages Fund.
  • Created in 1995, the Environmental Damages Fund is a Government of Canada program administered by Environment and Climate Change Canada. Fines imposed as penalties under environmental legislation following prosecutions are credited to the Environmental Damages Fund, which ensures that environmental good follows environmental harm.
  • The Environmental Damages Fund ensures that fines collected from environmental infractions are used to support projects that protect nature, restore habitats, and preserve wildlife populations.

Associated links

Contacts
Hermine Landry
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change
873-455-3714
Hermine.Landry@ec.gc.ca

Media Relations
Environment and Climate Change Canada
819-938-3338 or 1-844-836-7799 (toll-free)
media@ec.gc.ca

Ktunaxa Nation Council
Trish Barnes
Public Relations Coordinator
Trish.Barnes@ktunaxa.org
250-489-2464

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