Re: “Canada, U.S. talk future of Columbia River flow” [Aug. 11, A1]:
Indigenous sovereigns are a part of Canada’s treaty negotiating group, however not the U.S. group. In my work with the Ethics & Treaty Challenge, I’ve met with representatives from the State Division beginning in 2013, and I’ve inspired diplomatic employees to incorporate the 15 tribes within the U.S. negotiating group. Indigenous folks have suffered by genocide, together with lack of salmon central to folks of the Columbia River. After 10 years, three administrations and 18 negotiating rounds, tribes stay lacking from the U.S. treaty group.
The front-page story on the negotiations is juxtaposed with a narrative on the lethal Maui wildfire — a reminder of local weather change disaster. Local weather change and salmon extinction are two causes the U.S. and Canada want so as to add ecosystem administration — well being of the river — as a 3rd major treaty goal coequal with hydropower and flood-risk administration.
River choices have to be grounded in ethics: justice, stewardship and autonomy. Beginning in 2014, we’ve helped to facilitate an annual One River, Ethics Matter (OREM) convention hosted by Indigenous sovereigns and educational establishments. OREM is concerning the Columbia River’s previous and future: genocide, therapeutic and ethics. Readers can be taught extra at riverethics.org.
John Osborn, M.D., Vashon
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