Water Rites: Reimagining Water in the West

by Jim Ellis (Editor), Adrian Parr (Contributor), David Laidlaw (Contributor)

What are the challenges we face around water in Western Canada? What are our rights to water? Does water itself have rights? Water 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.

168 pages, Paperback

Published May 17, 2018

Reviews

[Nicholas Holt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Water Rites? More like “Waters Right”!

Jim Ellis has composed a large collection of essays that examine our deep and profound interconnectedness to water. He tackles important questions about the West’s relationship to land, arguing for a holistic approach to environmentalism while recognizing everything is connected.