The Peace River

Since time immemorial, the Peace River Watershed has been home to many Indigenous peoples of the Treaty 8 region (D’Souza & Parlee, 2019: 6). The Peace River is the largest water basin in Alberta, beginning in the mountains of British Columbia, and flowing into the Slave River tributary, forming the Slave River (D’Souza & Parlee, 2019: 9). The Peace sub-basin spans 323,00 square kilometers in Alberta and British Columbia and is an important habitat for elk, deer, moose, migratory birds, caribou, and grizzly bear populations (Mackenzie River Basin Board, 2003: 85, D’Souza & Parlee, 2019: 9). “The name of the river is derived from the Peace Point locality, located near the confluence of the Peace River with the Slave River, where a peace treaty was signed between the Indigenous Cree and Deaver peoples of Canada” (Nag, 2017: 1).

“In 2001, approximately 195,000 people lived in the Peace sub-basin” (Mackenzie River Basin Board, 2003: 85). Examples of Indigenous groups that live in the Peace River Watershed include the Dane-Zaa, the Woodland Cree, the Sekani, and Metis (D’Souza & Parlee, 2019: 12). The Peace River has many political and cultural meanings to Indigenous people, who are deeply impacted by changes in the health and integrity of the watershed (D’Souza & Parlee, 2019: 9).

Perhaps the most documented issues involving the Peace River Watershed is the W.A.C. Bennett Dam, “and more recently, oil sands mining” (D’Souza & Parlee, 2019: 20). Indigenous communities bear the majority of the burden in terms of negative ecological impact due to hydroelectric development. Indigenous land users are finding it increasingly difficult to utilize resources on the Peace River while water levels are continuing to change (D’Souza & Parlee, 2019: 20). “Today, there are land users who can no longer pass through or access from traditionally used areas due to low water levels” (D’Souza & Parlee, 2019: 20). This is only one example of significant change in the Peace River Watershed due to hydroelectric development and other land-use activities. Additionally, the Site C proposed dam poses another significant change to the watershed. “In the last decade, however, there are an increasing number of sources of documented traditional knowledge that highlight the significant and unique socio-cultural connection of communities to local landscapes” (D’Souza & Parlee, 2019: 43).

“According to Dane-zaa oral history, the Peace River is named for the settling of conflict between the Beaver and the Cree (T8FN—FGRC 2012:xiv (D’Souza & Parlee, 2019:9).

Quick Facts

• Drainage Area: Spans approximately 5,611,800 hectares of land (D’Souza & Parlee, 2019:9).
• Human Population: “In 2001, approximately 195,000 people lived in the Peace sub-basin” (Mackenzie River Basin Board, 2003: 85). 6842 people live in the town of Peace River.
• Jurisdictions: British Columbia and Alberta – Treaty 8 Territory (D’Souza & Parlee, 2019:9). Aboriginal peoples include Dane-Zaa, Woodland Cree, Sekani, and Metis (D’Souza & Parlee, 2019:12).
• Ecology: The Peace sub-basin spans 323,00 square kilometers in Alberta and British Columbia and is an important habitat for elk, deer, moose, migratory birds, caribou, and grizzly bear populations (Mackenzie River Basin Board, 2003: 85, D’Souza & Parlee, 2019: 9).
• Development: Perhaps the most documented issues involving the Peace River Watershed is the W.A.C. Bennett Dam, “and more recently, oil sands mining” (D’Souza & Parlee, 2019: 20).
  • Mining (not much impact, however, some small impact from gold mining time).
  • Conventional and Unconventional Petroleum Development.
  • Forestry.
  • Climate Change.

Community Research Projects

• D’Souza and Parlee, “Local and Traditional Knowledge in the Peace River Sub-Basin.”
• Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta Placenames and Oral Histories of Change in the Peace River Sub-Basin – Kevin Ahkimachie, Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta, Dusty Twinn, Gwen Muskwa, Brenda Parlee, Shalene Jobin.
• Mikisew Cree First Nation Monitoring Program – Melody Lepine, George Whiteknife, Jocelyn Martin, Bruce Maclean, Brenda Parlee – Peace Athabasca Watershed.
• MCFN Tracking Change in the Peace Athabasca Delta through Community Based Monitoring – Melody Lepine.
• Mikisew Cree First Nation Community-based Monitoring Plan – Melody Lepine.

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