Sister Projects
CANADA-COLOMBIA PROJECT
Beginning from the premise that water has a spirit, this project explores Indigenous knowledge of sacred, cultural and spiritual relationships with water in Canada and Colombia. Faced with threats to water security by industrial development and commodification, both countries aim to come together for a common goal. The purpose is to better understand the agency and personhood of water from Indigenous legal perspectives by bringing together Indigenous communities in Canada and Colombia for a series of knowledge exchanges. Each partner community will share their experience with three dimensions of the Indigenous water relationship axis: interruptions, personhood/agency/rights, and guardians programs. The exchange of knowledge, practices, customs and ceremonies relating to water produced by this collaboration will be shared through publications and short films.

ANISHINAABE NIBI INAAKONIGEWIN ONJE BIIMAADIZIWIN – LIVING ANISHINAABE WATER LAW IN CONTEXT
The goal of this project is to assist Indigenous and non-Indigenous decision-makers in navigating their relationships with lands, waters and each other. This involves consideration of the normative values and treaty obligations that arise in relation to water and land. Jurisdiction, processes and principles for decision-making will all be explored.
Spanning five years and funded by an Early Researcher Award from the Ontario Ministry of Research, Innovation and Science, the goals and methodologies of this project overlap significantly with Decolonizing Water. Both involve collaboration with Grand Council Treaty #3 and the Lake Winnipeg Indigenous Collective on projects involving water songs, intergenerational knowledge transmission, and the legal personhood of water.