Indigenous Peoples and Water Governance in Canada: Regulatory Injustice and Prospects for Reform
Presentation Abstract
High rates of resource extraction in northern and western Canada are creating intense socio-environmental pressures in the traditional territories of Indigenous peoples. Fresh water systems are particularly affected by mining, oil and gas extraction, and forestry. This, in turn, has significant impacts on Indigenous communities, including compromised access to safe drinking water, threats to environmental water quality, and related livelihood and health issues—such as access to traditional bush foods (of vital cultural and socio-economic importance, particularly in remote communities).
Our paper analyzes regulatory injustice within Canada’s colonial water governance framework. We first provide an overview of the legal and regulatory architecture of environmental and water governance in Canada, with specific examples of the disjuncture between colonial (Western) law and Indigenous water laws. We illustrate our conceptual points through two short case studies of water governance in the province of British Columbia. We then explore constructive responses, focusing on the potential for Indigenous water co-governance—concluding with some concrete suggestions for reform.
Session Title
The Power of Place - Promoting Decolonizing Methodologies in Water Governance in the Salish Sea
Conference Track
People
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2016 : Vancouver, B.C.)
Document Type
Event
Start Date
2016 12:00 AM
End Date
2016 12:00 AM
Location
2016SSEC
Type of Presentation
Oral
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Water--Law and legislation--British Columbia; Indians of North America--Legal status, laws, etc.--Environmental aspects--British Columbia; Indians of North America--British Columbia--Social life and customs--21st century
Geographic Coverage
Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Indigenous Peoples and Water Governance in Canada: Regulatory Injustice and Prospects for Reform
2016SSEC
High rates of resource extraction in northern and western Canada are creating intense socio-environmental pressures in the traditional territories of Indigenous peoples. Fresh water systems are particularly affected by mining, oil and gas extraction, and forestry. This, in turn, has significant impacts on Indigenous communities, including compromised access to safe drinking water, threats to environmental water quality, and related livelihood and health issues—such as access to traditional bush foods (of vital cultural and socio-economic importance, particularly in remote communities).
Our paper analyzes regulatory injustice within Canada’s colonial water governance framework. We first provide an overview of the legal and regulatory architecture of environmental and water governance in Canada, with specific examples of the disjuncture between colonial (Western) law and Indigenous water laws. We illustrate our conceptual points through two short case studies of water governance in the province of British Columbia. We then explore constructive responses, focusing on the potential for Indigenous water co-governance—concluding with some concrete suggestions for reform.
Comments
Keepers of the Water, www.keepersofthewater.ca
Program on Water Governance, University of British Columbia: www.watergovernance.ca