Introduction - Governing Transboundary Waters: Canada, the United States, and Indigenous Communities - page 20

The themes explored in the parable of discovery help to inform the overarching
question: how does one make a good upstream neighbor?, by providing more
nuance to conceptualizations of governance, borders, power, and justice.
Conclusion
For water - the giver of life - figuring out how to “get along with your neighbor”
is of utmost importance. It becomes tied to issues of justice and equitability. And
as situations change, so do the relationships. There is constant negotiation and
renegotiation, like canoeing in a turbulent river; you need to adjust your steering
as you head into the next bend. Just like cooperating with neighbors, it is often
difficult to predict what issues will come next, but if you are prepared (in mind
and body), the chances of addressing those issues gracefully, successfully, and
peacefully are much greater. For water governance, “mind and body” equate to
“political will”, “institutional frameworks”, and “capacity”. The next bend in the
river includes global climate change, persistent organic pollutants, and endocrine
disrupting chemicals - things that were not part of the equation when the original
binational treaties were created.
This topic allows its readers to bear witness to these powerful cases and see how
they both individually and collectively are contributing to transboundary water
governance. In a time when it is easy to become overwhelmed with negative stories
of environmental and social ills, it is my hope that these cases will provide a ray
of hope. The stories show how not only in the face of adversity, but perhaps because
of adversity, people are banding together to fight for the health and well-being of
their communities. Thus, this story is not just about transnational environmental
governance and Indigenous communities, it also provides a parable of how
communities can draw strength from hardship.
The topic also challenges those in dominant governance frameworks to become
more sensitized to the power dynamics associated with governing environmental
resources. Even framing water as a “resource”, for example, assumes it is something
divisible, countable, fragmentable. For many communities, water is a “gift from
the Creator”, to be treated with great reverence. The chapters that follow help
provide examples of how to address the issues of transboundary water governance
given different frameworks, histories, and worldviews.
As the conceptualization of the modern nation-state as a “fixed” border is under
increased scrutiny, yet fiercely protected in some circles, this is an important time
to rethink how we approach transboundary waters. Thus, this work is about
strengthening community, individual growth, and reconnections of people to places
and their environment. It is also about transboundary water justice, which is
intricately tied to scalar politics and the water-justice-power nexus.
The topic highlights new water governance frameworks, yet flags important
areas requiring further consideration. The cases presented in the pages that follow
are not just about how Indigenous communities are working to address environ-
mental issues. Rather, the cases highlight how the acts of addressing environmental
issues are leading to wider goals of self-determination. Fighting for culturally