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UG ETD Template Indigenizing Water Governance within Treaty Lands and Territory: Development of Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation Water Framework by Reneé Joy Goretsky A Thesis presented to The University of Guelph In partial fulfilment of requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Rural Studies Guelph, Ontario, Canada © Reneé Goretsky, May, 2021 ABSTRACT INDIGENIZING WATER GOVERNANCE WITHIN TREATY LANDS AND TERRITORY: DEVELOPMENT OF MISSISSAUGAS OF THE CREDIT FIRST NATION WATER FRAMEWORK Reneé Goretsky Advisors: University of Guelph, 2021 Dr. Sheri Longboat Dr. Kim Anderson Professor John FitzGibbon This research asked ‘how can water governance be Indigenized within a social justice framework’?’ in response to Canadian water governance injustices for Indigenous peoples. It applied this question to the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation’s (MCFN) need for developing a water framework to Indigenize water governance within its treaty lands and territory, as a partial resolution to its 2016 Water Claim (Aboriginal Title Claim to Waters within the Traditional Lands of the Mississaugas of the New Credit). Through an emergent MCFN context-specific research methodology adapted from Kovach’s Indigenous research framework, this research explored MCFN’s water values and how they related to MCFN’s Water Claim to develop a water framework; and it aimed to decolonize constructs of social justice and western water governance. Using qualitative community-based participatory research methods, the key findings, underpinned by a literature-based conceptual framework, were: 1) MCFN’s water values were multi-faceted and interdependent within plural and intersecting Indigenous identities shaped by historical and contemporary colonial influences and Indigenous resistances; 2) The meanings of MCFN’s Water Claim, correlating to their water values, were: Healing Ourselves by reconnecting with our Anishinaabe culture; Protecting the water: having a say; and Sustaining Ourselves by reclaiming our inherent, Aboriginal title and treaty rights; 3) MCFN’s multi-dimensional Water Framework, based on the Water Claim meanings, centralizes Water is Life and embraces principles, objectives and suggested actions for MCFN’s implementation; 4) MCFN’s Water Framework as social justice for reconciliation related to MCFN’s agency in reclaiming and reconstituting its rights, culture and voice within respectful relationships and social transformations rather than Fraser’s model of economic (re)distribution, political representation and cultural recognition; and 5) MCFN’s Water Framework supports the reconceptualization of the resource-based Canadian water governance to values of interconnectedness, respect, and responsibilities. This is how MCFN sees itself Indigenizing water governance within its treaty lands and territory; and contributing to the larger water governance Indigenizing movements. The research was significant because it directly addressed a community need, expanded on Indigenous research methodologies, and decolonized western constructs to shift the power hierarchy between the colonizer and Indigenous peoples towards respectful relationships. iv DEDICATION I dedicate this thesis to my husband, best friend and love of my life, Allen Goretsky. v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I acknowledge Niibi as life, the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation for welcoming me into their community and participating in this research, and the Water Committee for contributing and being involved in all aspects of this research. A special thank you goes to Darin Wybenga and Mark La Forme for steering the project forward. Also, thank you to Chief and Council for endorsing this research. A huge thank you goes to my supervisor, Dr. Sheri Longboat and my PhD Advisory Committee members, Dr. Kim Anderson and Professor John FitzGibbon, who provided endless advice and guidance throughout my doctoral research; and Professor John FitzGibbon who provided funding for my research activities. I thank my family who provided support and encouragement, especially my husband, Allen; and my sister, Lorna, who assisted me during challenging times. I acknowledge the following funding support for my doctoral degree: The University of Guelph, School of Environmental Design and Rural Development and the South African National Research Foundation. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract ........................................................................................................................... ii Dedication ....................................................................................................................... iv Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................... v Table of Contents ............................................................................................................ vi List of Tables ................................................................................................................... x List of Figures .................................................................................................................. xi List of Images ................................................................................................................ xiii List of Abbreviations and Acronyms .............................................................................. xiv List of Appendices .......................................................................................................... xv 1 Introduction .............................................................................................................. 1 Research Problem ............................................................................................. 1 MCFN’s Research Need .................................................................................... 3 Research Question and Objectives .................................................................... 7 Thesis Organization ........................................................................................... 8 Notes on Terminology ........................................................................................ 8 2 Literature Review ................................................................................................... 10 Governance and Water .................................................................................... 10 Indigenous Identities ........................................................................................ 20 Indigenous Peoples in Canada ........................................................................ 30 Canadian Water Governance and Indigenous Peoples ................................... 34 Indigenous Peoples’ Responsibilities and Water Rights .................................. 36 Social Justice ................................................................................................... 43 Chapter Conclusions ........................................................................................ 49 vii 3 The Research Collaboration and MCFN’s Context ................................................ 52 Establishing a Research Collaboration ............................................................ 52 MCFN Today .................................................................................................... 55 MCFN’s History Related to the Water Claim .................................................... 58 MCFN’s Historical and Contemporary Contexts in Relation to its Creation Story .................................................................................................. 65 Chapter Conclusions ........................................................................................ 68 4 Methodology, Framework and Methods ................................................................. 70 Self-location ..................................................................................................... 70 Research Framework and Principles ............................................................... 72 A MCFN Research Framework ........................................................................ 76 Co-engagement ......................................................................................... 76 From a relational paradigm to a multiple-research paradigm approach ..... 77 From Indigenous values and ethics to community values and ethics ........ 81 From Indigenous cultural protocols to community protocols ...................... 82 From gathering knowledge to a Community-Based Participatory Research ................................................................................................... 84 Making meanings of knowledge gathered from Indigenous to multiple perspectives ........................................................................................................... 85 Research Methods ........................................................................................... 88 Participants and selection .......................................................................... 88 Research phases, activities, and timeframes ............................................ 89 Knowledge gathering activities .................................................................. 92 Analysis of Knowledge Gathered ................................................................... 102 viii Knowledge gathered from conversations, group discussions, youth group and LSK Elementary School students ........................................... 102 Knowledge
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