Working with Indigenous peoples
The Canada Water Agency recognizes the importance and diversity of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis’ relationships to water, which are integral to their cultures. Advancing reconciliation and collaboration with Indigenous peoples is an important part of the Canada Water Agency’s mandate, and our commitment to strengthening and improving our relationships with Indigenous partners spans all areas of our work.
On this page
National initiatives
Working with Indigenous peoples to seek their perspectives and support their participation in national initiatives related to freshwater is a central part of the mandate of the Canada Water Agency.
Review of the Canada Water Act
In 2021, the Minister of Environment was directed to advance the modernization of the Canada Water Act to reflect Canada’s freshwater reality.
As an initial step, the Canada Water Agency is working with Indigenous partners to develop plans for meaningful, effective, and well-resourced engagement on the Act. The engagement phase is expected to begin in 2025.
The Indigenous Grassroots Water Circle
As part of the Canada Water Act review, the Canada Water Agency is piloting an Indigenous Grassroots Water Circle to create an accessible, safe, Indigenous-centered space to engage directly with Indigenous grassroots individuals.
These individuals include:
- Elders
- youth
- women as water carriers
- parents
- academics
- people with disabilities
- 2SLGBTQ+
The Water Circle will supplement, not replace, other forms of engagement with Indigenous governments, organizations, communities, and experts.
Collaboration on Freshwater Ecosystem Initiatives
Through the Freshwater Ecosystem Initiatives, the Canada Water Agency takes direct action to restore and protect freshwater ecosystems of national significance.
These eight priority waterbodies include:
- the Great Lakes
- Lake Winnipeg
- Lake of the Woods
- the St. Lawrence River
- the Wolastoq/Saint John River
- the Fraser River
- the Mackenzie River
- Lake Simcoe
In all eight Freshwater Ecosystem Initiatives, advancing participation of Indigenous peoples in freshwater management is a priority. To facilitate Indigenous participation, the Canada Water Agency has provided financial support for Indigenous-led actions (such as Indigenous community-based monitoring; the use of Indigenous Knowledge systems to guide local efforts; and increased partnerships, collaboration, and shared decision-making). The Canada Water Agency will continue working with Indigenous partners to advance engagement and governance on freshwater issues.
Data
To make informed decisions about freshwater ecosystems, people rely on data. Indigenous peoples hold the longest standing data records on their lands, recording knowledge on water through stories, song, dance, and oral histories. Indigenous governments, organizations, and communities also record data with scientific tools and methods.
The Canada Water Agency wishes to understand the various freshwater data interests of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. This will help the Agency honour agreements; strengthen relationships; and respect Indigenous rights, interests, cultures, and Knowledge systems. It will also inform the Agency’s data initiatives.
A key initiative, currently underway, is the development of the National Freshwater Data Strategy, in collaboration with Indigenous partners.
The Strategy will:
- support a meaningful role for Indigenous peoples in organizing, accessing, and applying data
- promote data sharing with Indigenous governments, organizations, and communities
- recognize the value of Indigenous Knowledge and data to broaden understanding of freshwater ecosystems and management
- include obligations related to protecting Indigenous data sovereignty, inspired by Indigenous-created data frameworks like OCAP® (Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession)
Science
Environment and Climate Change Canada, in coordination with the Canada Water Agency, is developing a National Freshwater Science Agenda to identify freshwater science priorities in Canada. The Science Agenda will highlight freshwater science and knowledge needs to advance these priorities, and provide a roadmap to guide collective efforts to address these needs in a more inclusive, collaborative and coordinated way. As part of the development process, ECCC is working with and supporting Indigenous governments and organizations to understand their freshwater science and knowledge needs and priorities in the context of the freshwater challenges they face. This work will also help ensure the Science Agenda reflects Indigenous voices and considers Indigenous Knowledge systems in a respectful and meaningful way.