Water Rites: Reimagining Water in the West (Calgary Institute for the Humanities, 2)

What are the challenges we face around water in Western Canada? What are our rights to water? Does water itself have rights? Water Rites: Reimagining Water in the West documents the many ways that water flows through our lives, connecting the humans, animals and plants that all depend on this precious and endangered resource. Essays from scholars, activists, environmentalists, and human rights advocates illuminate the diverse issues surrounding water in Alberta, including the right to access clean drinking water, the competing demands of the resource development industry and Indigenous communities, and the dwindling supply of fresh water in the face of human-caused climate change. Statements from community organizations detail the challenges facing watersheds, and the actions being taken to mitigate these problems. With a special focus on Environmental and Indigenous issues, Water Rites explores how deeply water is tied to human life. These essays are complemented by full-colour portfolios of work by contemporary painters, photographers, and installation artists who explore our relation to water. Reproductions of historical paintings, engravings and film stills demonstrate how water has shaped our country's cultural imaginary from its beginnings, proving that water is a vital resource for our lives and our imaginations. What are the challenges surrounding water in Western Canada? What are our rights to water? Does water itself have rights? Water Rites: Reimagining Water in the West documents the many ways that water flows through our lives, connecting the humans, animals, and plants that all depend on this precious and endangered resource. Essays from scholars, activists, environmentalists, and human rights advocates illuminate the diverse issues surrounding water in Alberta, including the right to access clean drinking water, the competing demands of the resource development industry and Indigenous communities, and the dwindling supply of fresh water in the face of human-caused climate change. Statements from community organizations detail the challenges facing watersheds, and the actions being taken to mitigate these problems. With a special focus on Environmental and Indigenous issues, Water Rites explores how deeply water is tied to human life. These essays are complemented by full-colour portfolios of work by contemporary painters, photographers, and installation artists who explore our relation to water. Reproductions of historical paintings, engravings and film stills demonstrate how water has shaped our country's cultural imaginary from its beginnings, proving that water is a vital resource for our lives and our imaginations Cover Half Title Page Series Page Full Title Page Copyright Page Contents Contents continued Acknowledgements Introduction Embodying Kinship Responsibilities in & through Nipi (Water) Petrography & Water Women, Water, Land Tanya Harnett Conserving Headwaters The Elbow River Watershed Partnership Confluence Indigenous Water Rights & Global Warming in Alberta Watershed + Rethinking Public Art Swimming in Systems Glory to Water Gloire a l’eau Water Rights/Water Justice Appendix a: UN Declaration on the Human Rght to Water & Sanitation Appendix b: UN Declarationon the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Contributors Campus Alberta Page Back Cover "Water Rites: Reimagining Water in the West brings together artists, activists, conservation groups, and scholars to illuminate the diverse issues surrounding water in Alberta. Examining the human right to water, the effects of resource extraction on Indigenous communities, oil spills, and protest movements, this vital collection explores key water-related issues with a focus on environmental and Indigenous perspectives. It shows how deeply water is tied to human life, not only as a necessary resource, but also as a source of artistic inspiration and as part of our collective consciousness."-- Provided by publisher