Introduction - Governing Transboundary Waters: Canada, the United States, and Indigenous Communities - page 7

River, whose waters fail to reach the sea as a consequence of dramatic upstream
diversions, remains a story of inequity and egregious Indigenous injustices
(Muehlmann, 2013). However, in a recent historiography of six rivers, Peter Coates
(2013) shows the range of outcomes related to hydropolitics, ranging from the
over-industrialized Los Angeles River to the wild and largely unaltered Yukon
River. Coates takes care not to privilege one type of river over another. Rather,
he characterizes the relationships between humans and nature as reflexive and
dynamic - showing how rivers influence people and civilizations, just as people
influence the shape and character of rivers. Seeing this “reflexivity” between humans
and water is an important lens to understand transboundary water governance.
Indigenous leadership
In many ways, Indigenous communities that span international borders are in a
unique position to provide leadership and visioning for the governance of trans-
boundary waters. In fact, throughout this topic, I suggest that Indigenous
communities are well poised to provide leadership roles in transboundary water
governance because: their traditional territories are not bound by contemporary
nation-state borders; their traditional boundaries often follow river basins and
watersheds, rather than Cartesian borders; and their approach to water issues is
often more holistic and integrated (and includes protection of both ecosystem and
human health). In addition, many Indigenous communities have a deep and
sustained connection with their waterways, and protecting the water (and the marine
resources) is integral to preserving their livelihood and lifeways.
In the pages that follow, I highlight some of the innovative ways in which
Indigenous communities address transboundary water issues and assume leadership
roles in reshaping transboundary water governance. This occurs both within formal
governance mechanisms, as well as through education, and advocacy work. Further-
more, I also show that addressing environmental issues for Indigenous communities
is often intertwined with decolonization and counter-hegemonic activities (such
as increased capacity to govern, teach-ins, and canoe journeys). I also highlight the
partnerships emerging between government agencies, citizens, and Indigenous
communities to address issues facing transboundary waters. Although there is no
“magic bullet” for improving water for human and ecosystem health, governance
systems that support diverse worldviews are crucial.
What makes a good upstream neighbor?
Under this context, the underlying (and generalizable) question for this topic is,
“What makes a good upstream neighbor” . 8 This misleadingly simple question is
important for two reasons. First, the term “neighbor” reflects relationships that
are both spatial and temporal - that is, the relationship is proximate and ongoing.
The term elicits a small-scale relationship (the relationship with your next-door
neighbor, perhaps). However, it can just as easily be scaled up to municipal