Guest Commentary: Protecting Alaska's transboundary rivers from Canadian mine pollution The Wrangell Sentinel

The success of the Ktunaxa Nation to finally convince the governments of Canada and the United States to convene the International Joint Commission (IJC) to address the long-standing coal mining pollution in the Elk Valley in southeast British Columbia (B.C.) and Montana is a very big deal. The IJC is provided for and guided by the Boundary Waters Treaty, signed by Canada and the United States in 1909. The IJC studies and recommends solutions to transboundary issues when asked to do so by the national governments.

While this is great news, the Ktunaxa Nation, who’s traditional territory includ...