Fort Simpson (Sep 15/06) - Making water a recognized human right was one of the key directives that emerged from the Keepers of the Water gathering in Fort Simpson.

The conference held Sept. 6-7 ended with delegates from First Nations across the Mackenzie River watershed basin adopting a declaration outlining how water should be treated.

During the two-day conference, more than 15 speakers from First Nations, conservation groups and environment boards shared knowledge about different topics relating to water.

A main topic throughout the conference was clean water as a human right.

Presently the federal government of Canada doesn't legally recognize water as a human right, said Kathleen Mahoney, a professor of law from the University of Calgary.

Margaret Trudeau, the keynote speaker at the conference, also urged the delegates to work towards making water a human right.

"Water is our most precious resource and I believe our most sacred," said Trudeau.

The most important thing, said Trudeau, is for aboriginal groups to work together and hold onto their land so there isn't wide-scale exploitation.

"With their deep intuitive knowledge of the land the First Nations have the answers," said Trudeau.

Delegates from First Nations outside of the Dehcho shared stories about their experiences.

Chief Will Mayo of Tanana, Alaska, told how elders' knowledge was called "interesting anecdotal information" by government officials. Mayo urged First Nations in the Dehcho to combine elders' knowledge and scientific information to get a complete picture on water.

"In this way we are armed to defend our way of life," he said.

Chief Roland Willson of the West Moberly First Nations in B.C. showed a slide show illustrating how wildlife is interacting with well sites in his area. Pictures of a moose drinking out of sump pits left people around the room shaking their heads.

The goal of the conference was to bring people together to focus on what's happening in the watershed, said Grand Chief Herb Norwegian.

"We the people of the Dehcho take it for granted that we live in Canada's biggest watershed," Norwegian said.