Ktunaxa-led Environmental Damages Fund Program

(EDF Newsletter 1: August 25, 2026, courtesy KNC Lands & Resources Sector)

Background: From Fines to Funding

The Ktunaxa-led Environmental Damages Fund (EDF) program was created to redistribute a major fine that was paid by Teck Coal Limited (also known as Teck Coal) in 2021. Teck Coal was found guilty of dumping waste rock into the Upper Fording River and Clode Pond in 2012 and was ordered to pay a $60M fine under Section 36(3) of the Fisheries Act. The waste rock contained high levels of selenium, calcium, and carbonate. Selenium can be toxic to aquatic life at high levels. High concentrations of calcium and carbonate can form calcite under the right environmental conditions, cementing rocks on the riverbed together and reducing available spawning grounds for fish. Learn more about the ruling here. The ruling was a milestone for the Ktunaxa Nation, as it acknowledged some of the harms that have been done in ʔamakʔis Qukin (Raven’s Land, commonly referred to as the Elk Valley). It was also the largest-ever pollution charge enforced under the Federal Fisheries Act. The Ktunaxa Nation and Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) are working collaboratively to facilitate the EDF program over the next five years. Most of the money will remain in ʔamakʔis Ktunaxa for Ktunaxa-led direct fund projects that focus on fish and fish-habitat improvement. Six million dollars will each be distributed to Ktunaxa Nation Council (KNC) and the four Ktunaxa First Nations in Canada (totaling $30M to the collective).   Figure 1. Funds distributed to First Nations from the 2021 Teck Coal fine

Eligible Projects

The Ktunaxa-led EDF program holds ʔa·kxam̓is q̓api qapsin (all living things) at its core and aims to build a stronger future for the community. Types of eligible projects include restoration, environmental-quality improvement, research and development, and education and awareness. Ktunaxa Nation Council has allocated a portion of its $6M to fund five capacity positions (one position at KNC and one position at each of the four Ktunaxa First Nations) to facilitate the projects until about 2030. The Ktunaxa First Nations and KNC are also jointly reviewing letters of intent and full project applications from the Call for Applications (CFA) process with ECCC, in which any interested party could apply for funding to complete fish and fish-habitat improvement projects in ʔamakʔis Qukin and the immediate downstream area, up to the U.S. border. All projects will need to fall under at least one of the categories listed above to be eligible for funding. The total amount of funds available through this competitive funding stream is $16M. The remaining $14M of the original fine paid by Teck Coal was split between the Government of Canada ($2M), Syilx Okanagan Nation Alliance ($6M) and Shuswap Band ($6M). Syilx Okanagan and Shuswap Band were awarded funding for direct fund projects because they are a part of the Canadian portion of the Columbia Watershed. However, the majority remains with the Ktunaxa Nation, which is also the only Nation participating in the review of competitive projects with ECCC.

Ktunaxa Nation Vision Statement

Kȼmak̓qa ksukⱡuⱡa·k kuk̓qani ȼ k̓itqakiⱡ haqa ksiʔⱡ ȼxa ʔa·kⱡukqaʔis ksukiⱡq̓ukaʔmi·k kiʔin Ktunaxa naʔs ʔamak̓ʔis. Qus pik̓aksȼ naʔs ȼxaⱡ yaqanakiⱡ haqaʔki. K̓itqawiȼmu kakiⱡwiȼkiⱡ ʔamakʔis k̓isnikȼik kȼxaⱡ qa kiⱡkk̓axuxami·k k̓itqakiⱡ haqa ȼ k̓isʔin ʔaknumuȼtiⱡʔis. Strong, healthy citizens and communities, speaking our languages and celebrating who we are and our history in our ancestral homelands, working together, managing our lands and resources, within a self-sufficient, self-governing Nation.

Program Goals

The Ktunaxa-led EDF program strives to meet the Ktunaxa Nation Vision Statement through:

• The improvement of fish population health and quality of fish habitat in ʔamakʔis Ktunaxa (which in turn, will benefit ʔa·kxam̓is q̓api qapsin);
• An opportunity to steward the land with Ktunaxa-led projects; and
• The acknowledgement of Ktunaxa Nation’s authority through a new and collaborative review process developed with ECCC.

Ktunaxa Direct Fund Projects Approved So Far

1. The Capacity Project (KNC)

Designed to support the development of direct fund projects at the Ktunaxa First Nations and KNC. Please spread the word within your communities to help identify what aquatic projects are most important to you. Ktunaxa ʔaqⱡsmaknik̓ are encouraged to share project ideas at community meetings, engagement sessions or by contacting your local office. The contact information for direct fund project leads at KNC and each of the Ktunaxa First Nations are included below.

2. Upper Kootenay Burbot Recovery Initiative (ʔaq̓am, Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡi’it and KNC)

The Upper Kootenay Burbot Recovery Initiative (UKBRI) has been approved for funding. This phased project will take place over the next five years (2026-2031). This important project will be delivered collaboratively by ʔaq̓am, Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡi’it and KNC. In the Upper Kootenay River, ʔa·q̓uǂam (Burbot) populations have long been in collapse. Although the fishery has remained closed to the public for decades, natural recovery of the population has been unsuccessful, suggesting persistent constraints. In addition to building internal capacity within the Nation, UKBRI aims to re-establish a self-sustaining ʔa·q̓uǂam population by incorporating Indigenous Knowledge with Western science practices, developing a conservation aquaculture program and conducting long-term monitoring of the population and its habitat.

Contacts

ʔakisq̓nuk First Nation Caily Craig, Water Stewardship Coordinator caily.craig@akisqnuk.org | (250) 342-6301 ʔaq̓am Rick Smit, Lands Manager Aquatics rsmit@aqam.net | 250-426-5717 yaqan nuʔkiy Carter Kuiper, Environmental and Community Sustainability Coordinator carter.kuiper@lowerkootenay.com | (250) 428-4428 Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡi’it Jessie Watson, Referrals Manager jessie.watson@tobaccoplains.org | (250) 887-3461 Ktunaxa Nation Council Kiersten Vestergaard, Aquatic Biologist kiersten.vestergaard@ktunaxa.org | (250) 489-2464