Water Governance in Lake Nipigon: Re-imagining the Ecosystem Approach to Incorporate Western Science and Indigenous Knowledge

Keywords: Ecosystem Approach; Indigenous knowledge; Critical Systems Thinking; Boundary Science; Political Approaches; Sustainability; Political Geography; Resource Management; Indigenous-led Conservation
Abstract Type: Paper Abstract

Abstract

In the pursuit of more just geographies, my work interrogates the injustices that occurred during the colonizing of what is now known as Canada. Following the arrival of the European settlers, parliamentary sovereignty was established over the lands of what was known as Turtle Island to replace the order of the lands at that time. This injustice was committed to marginalize the members of the First Nations and territorialize the land by establishing new borders. My research delves into these factors from a resource management perspective and works to establish co-governance frameworks for ecological preservation and Indigenous reconciliation. This scholarship is looking to re-imagine an ‘Ecosystem Approach’ that incorporates Indigenous knowledge with Western science. It specifically highlights the value of Indigenous knowledge, the process through which we can braid this knowledge with Western science, and how these efforts can promote Canadian reconciliation with Indigenous communities. This re-imagined framework will incorporate multiple ways of knowing, thereby increasing its capacity to use knowledge sources that are beyond Western science, which generally favours propositional knowing. Midgley and Rajagopalan (2021) stresses that multiple ways of knowing should be mobilized to stimulate systemic change and reconcile with marginalized communities. In that vein, my research contributes to the ongoing efforts to build indigenous-led or co-managed natural resource practices to further reconciliation and promote sustainable land use. Furthermore, through its implementation, this scholarship will work to return ownership of the lands and its management to the Indigenous communities that inhabit them.