Conclusion and reflections - Governing Transboundary Waters: Canada, the United States, and Indigenous Communities - page 182

How are the Indigenous-led governance mechanisms
linked to the twinned goals of ecosystem protection and
processes of self-determination, empowerment, and
decolonization?
Through cases - or parables of change - I explore the second question: how
Indigenous-led mechanisms are meeting goals of environmental protection and
self-determination. I examine the cultural politics of transboundary water govern-
ance, as it pertains to Indigenous communities that live “between borders”. I first
highlighted the ongoing impacts of colonial bordering and how contemporary
governance mechanisms fall short in protecting Indigenous communities (particu-
larly as these mechanisms are rooted in a nation-state framework and treat borders
as fixed). I also highlighted environmental issues that impact all people, but
particularly impact Indigenous communities, because of the traditional reliance on
marine-based resources for sustenance.
Part Two highlights Indigenous-led movements that are designed to contribute
to ecosystem protection. The cases include both governance structures (such as
the Coast Salish Gatherings of Chapter 6) as well as performative techniques that
strengthen communities, build allies, and contribute to raising a collective
conscience around water (such as the intertribal Canoe Journey of Chapter 7 and
the Water Walkers of Chapter 8). The cases also examine how counter-hegemonic
techniques such as “strategic essentialism”, “performativity”, and “critical cartog-
raphy” are changing the dynamics of transboundary water governance. In addition,
the focus on preparing youth for leadership positions - and to “walk between
worlds” - is also a fundamentally important aspect of the Indigenous-led initiatives.
The case of Luna/ Tsu-xiit , the “lost whale”, demonstrates the complexities of
boundaries, both in terms of political boundaries and cultural (animal-human)
boundaries. Luna's story provides an opportunity to think critically about how
worldviews are ascribed onto and built into management practices, and how these
management practices reinforce dominant narratives of the State and Science.
Engaging with notions of hybridity helps to tease out the social constructions that
are so largely unchallenged and unseen: the constructions of physical political borders
(between nation-states) as well as those between “nature” and “society” (which
Luna helps with). All cases encourage a more nuanced approach of and critical
inquiry into transboundary governance.
Highlighting examples of Indigenous-led governance mechanisms provided a
counter-narrative to dominant systems of governance that are defined by the
State. The cases highlight how goals of ecosystem protection are part of wider
counter-hegemonic activities that can contribute to decolonizing activities, self-
determination, and empowerment. I engaged with lessons from the Canada-U.S.
border - a deceptively neutral border - but the lessons are universally applicable.
Ultimately, I advocate for creating governance mechanisms commensurate to a
scale that makes sense both ecologically and culturally.
My hope is that this volume will help to reframe the dominant narrative related
to transboundary water governance. This reframing helps to unpack the “border”