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Outcomes and Prospects for Collaboration in Two Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal Forest Management Negotiations in Ontario

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Outcomes and Prospects for Collaboration in Two Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal Forest Management Negotiations in Ontario Outcomes and Prospects for Collaboration in Two Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal Forest Management Negotiations in Ontario by Giuliana Casimirri A thesis submitted in conformity with the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Faculty of Forestry University of Toronto © Copyright by Giuliana Casimirri 2013 Outcomes and Prospects for Collaboration in Two Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal Forest Management Negotiations in Ontario Giuliana Casimirri Doctor of Philosophy Faculty of Forestry University of Toronto 2013 Abstract Successful intercultural natural resource management collaboration is challenged by divergent worldviews and power disparities. Studies of non-intercultural collaboration efforts demonstrate that good outcomes emerge when procedural conditions are met, such as fostering open and high-quality deliberations, use of interest-based bargaining techniques and collective definition of the scope of the process. The applicability of these procedural conditions to intercultural collaboration efforts, such as negotiations between Aboriginal people, government resource managers and sustainable forest license holders, has not been explored. The aim of this thesis is to examine the outcomes and factors influencing two intercultural collaborations in the northeast region of Ontario. Semi-structured interviews with collaboration participants, negotiation meeting minutes and draft agreements are used as data sources. Following a general inductive coding approach and using QSR NVivo 2, the analysis of outcomes in both cases highlights improvements in relationships, increased understanding among the parties and the gradual definition of the scope of the negotiation. The findings also demonstrate that several barriers, including a lack of clear policy and legislative framework for collaboration and different definitions of the problem discourage intercultural collaboration. In ii one negotiation process, frequent and high quality deliberations, using an interest-based negotiation approach, and efforts to mutually define the scope of the negotiation prior to substantive negotiation do not overcome these systemic barriers to collaboration. However, in another negotiation process, the social and relational characteristics of the community and participants do contribute to the parties recognizing their interdependence, focusing on shared goals and undertaking joint action. This research demonstrates that the development of shared goals and acknowledgement of divergent problem definitions are more important to intercultural collaboration success than the development of improved relationships and establishing a mutually acceptable scope prior to collaboration. In the absence of a supportive legislative basis for the distribution of forest decision-making authority and responsibilities, this understanding of how Aboriginal, government and forest industry participants can collaborate is useful for developing more effective and equitable intercultural collaboration. iii Acknowledgments I would like to thank my supervisory committee, including Drs. Shashi Kant, David Balsillie, Deborah McGregor, and Andy Kenney. Shashi supported my Masters field study in India and encouraged me to pursue doctoral studies and has facilitated this study by providing scholarly advice, guidance and emotional support. David’s lectures on the inner workings of Ontario forest policy got me hooked on unpacking the political influences of forest sustainability and his guidance has been very helpful. Deborah ensured that I questioned all my assumptions and provided continuing encouragement and critical insights. Andy contributed to my research as both a forester and resplendent teacher and provided valuable suggestions to improve this thesis. I also received helpful suggestions from my internal thesis examiner, Dr. Sandy Smith and my external thesis examiner, Dr. David Natcher. My writing has also benefited from the comments of Drs. Peggy Smith, Rachael Cayley, Hilary Thorpe, and Beth Murray Davis, who reviewed various chapters and provided suggestions. Peggy also contributed by assisting with field research coordination and providing valuable insight into Aboriginal and state forest relations. The Sustainable Forest Management Network provided financial support for this project. I am indebted to all of the negotiation participants to whom I spoke. Their openness and genuine interest in ameliorating their relationship with each other contributed to this research. Community members at Constance Lake First Nation gave of their time to participate in this research and also to show me their territory. Arthur Moore, and his wife Elizabeth, were especially welcoming and supportive of this study in Constance Lake. At the Missanabie Cree First Nation band office, John McLeod greatly facilitated my research. Bob Johnson, John Sills and Stephen Harvey from the OMNR and Terry Wilson from NAN also contributed their insight. During the writing of this thesis my parents have provided me with wonderful support. My mother, Maria, in particular, took care of my children, and gave me tremendous emotional support as only a mother could. I thank her profoundly for this and for teaching me everything that is worth knowing. My father, Emidio, was always supportive of my various interests, particularly my many years of school; a luxury he never had. A collection of vibrant women, including Jennifer, Stephanie, and Joanne, also took care of my children so that I could write and I thank them for this. Joanne and Karen also took care of me in a myriad of ways and I am very iv grateful for their friendship. I also thank my sisters, Edi, Carmela and Melissa and my in-laws, Barbara and Brian for the important ways they contributed and supported me. My husband, Peter true to his name, was my rock. He provided just the right mix of love and ‘tough love’ required to see me through this project. My little ones, Jack and Sophia, grew up while their mother was perched on her office chair but their wonder at the way the world works provided the final push I needed to get on with it. I would never advise a student or colleague to take such a long time to complete a doctoral thesis but this extended incubation period did provide me with the small benefit of witnessing the enduring nature of the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal collaboration difficulties, which were the setting for this study. Such a long time between field research and study writing had the unfortunate effect of reducing the connection I had with the region and the people. I hope that with the completion of this thesis some small value will be derived from it for the individuals who participated in it. As I write this in 2012, it is likely that some or many of the industry, OMNR and Aboriginal leaders that I spoke with have retired or moved on to other positions. My hope is that this thesis serves to preserve some of their collective institutional memory and that their experiences are used to improve new collaborative efforts. v Table of Contents Acknowledgments .......................................................................................................................... iv Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................... vi List of Tables ................................................................................................................................. xi List of Figures ............................................................................................................................... xii 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Defining the Research Problem and Context ...................................................................... 1 1.2 Assumptions and Approach ................................................................................................ 4 1.3 Justification and Rationale .................................................................................................. 7 1.4 Thesis Statement ................................................................................................................. 9 1.5 Research Objectives ............................................................................................................ 9 1.6 Terms and Concepts ............................................................................................................ 9 1.6.1 Aboriginal Peoples .............................................................................................................. 9 1.6.2 Intercultural Natural Resource Management Collaboration ............................................. 10 1.6.3 Worldview ......................................................................................................................... 11 1.7 Organization of Thesis ...................................................................................................... 12 2 Literature Review ..................................................................................................................... 14 2.1 Overview of Chapter ......................................................................................................... 14 2.2 Natural Resource Management Collaboration Foundations ............................................. 14 2.3 Evaluating Collaboration and Identifying Important Variables ........................................ 17
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