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TEKEG 27-28 November 2023

Agenda

27 November 2023

Trinational Forum on Indigenous Approaches to Freshwater Management in North America

Traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) plays a key role in ensuring the sustainable and responsible use of our planet’s most vital resource—fresh water. By recognizing the need to respect Indigenous rights and self-determination, the importance of TEK and by collaborating with Indigenous governments and communities, we can promote inclusive, equitable, and resilient freshwater management practices, protecting water for present and future generations.

The Trinational Forum on Indigenous Approaches to Freshwater Management seeks to explore the vital role of Traditional Ecological Knowledge, Indigenous stewardship practices and the intersection with Indigenous rights in freshwater management across North America.

Time Zone: Central Mexico

8:00–9:00

Registration of Public Participants

9:00–9:15
Salón Tehuantepec, Hotel Misión Oaxaca

Welcoming Ceremony

9:15–920

Forum Overview

Julian Portilla
Forum Facilitator and Consultant in Mediation, Facilitation and Multistakeholder Consensus-building Processes

9:20–9:30

Opening Remarks

Kathy Hodgson-Smith
TEKEG Facilitator

9:30–11:00

Session 1 – Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and Freshwater Management: CEC Case Studies

This panel will focus on how Indigenous communities in North America have developed and utilized traditional ecological knowledge to manage freshwater. It will feature the three project case studies and a concluding comparative analysis by the TEKEG Facilitator.

Presenters:

Opening remarks by Kathy Hodgson Smith
TEKEG Facilitator

Sarah James and Edward Alexander
TEKEG member / Gwich’in Council International
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Cessia Esther Chuc-Uc and Eunice Uc Gonzalez
TEKEG member / Archeologist, INAH
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Charmaine Thom
Spokesperson of Taku River Tinglit First Nation
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11:00–11:15

Break

11:15–12:15

Session 2 – Indigenous-led Water Restoration and Conservation Projects across North America: Strengthening Collaboration between Indigenous Peoples, Local Communities and Other Key Actors on Freshwater Management   

This panel will showcase Indigenous-led freshwater governance. It will explore collaborative models of freshwater management that involve Indigenous Peoples and local communities, national and subnational governments, academia, industry and nongovernmental organizations. It will showcase examples of effective partnerships, co-management arrangements, and enabling mechanisms that respect Indigenous rights, knowledge, and sovereignty while fostering collaboration and shared decision-making.

Presenters:

Opening remarks by Amelia Reyna Monteros Guijon
TEKEG Member

Ernesto Santiago Martínez
President, Coordinadora de Pueblos en Defensa del Agua (COPUDA)

Jeanette Wolfley
Shoshone-Bannock Nation, Fort Hall Reservation, Idaho, USA
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12:15–13:15

Lunch [provided]

13:15–14:45

Continuation: Session 2 – Indigenous-led Water Restoration and Conservation Projects across North America: Strengthening Collaboration between Indigenous Peoples, Local Communities and Other Key Actors on Freshwater Management.

Presenters:

Opening remarks by María del Pilar García Hernández
TEKEG member

Sharon M. Day
Founder and Executive Director of the Indigenous Peoples Task Force, Asabiikone-zaaga’iganiing Nation
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Brandon Rice
Project Support Technician, Kahnawá:ke Environment Protection Office
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Cirila Angel
Indigenous Leader, Machi-Ko, San Juanito, Chihuahua, Mexico
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14:45–15:00

Break

15:00–16:55

Session 3 – Dialogue and Recommendations (in-person only)

This session will provide an opportunity to break out into smaller groups to discuss how the day’s panel presentations differ from or relate to the experiences of participants. Facilitative questions will be used to develop recommendations for existing policy frameworks of national/subnational governments, industry and other key actors on freshwater governance.

Facilitated Discussion by Julian Portilla
Consultant in Mediation, Facilitation and Multistakeholder Consensus-building Processes

16:55–17:00

Closing Remarks

Gail Small
TEKEG member

17:00–18:30

Networking Event

28 November 2023

8:00–9:00

Registration of Public Participants

9:00–9:15
Salón Tehuantepec, Hotel Misión Oaxaca

Reporting Back on Day 1

Kathy Hodgson-Smith
TEKEG Facilitator

9:15–10:45

Session 4 – Applying and Co-Applying Indigenous-Science to Freshwater Management: Bridging Knowledge Systems

This panel will explore the potential for bridging Indigenous knowledge systems, Indigenous science and western scientific approaches to freshwater management. It will discuss technical programming, data collection, and protecting TEK, as well as respectful methodologies for co-applying knowledge systems, and the challenges/benefits associated with combining Indigenous and scientific perspectives for understanding and addressing complex water-related challenges.

Presenters:

Opening remarks by Kathy Hodgson-Smith
TEKEG Facilitator

Paul MacDonald
Director, Indigenous Science Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada
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Gail Small
TEKEG member

Gisela Herrerías
Alternatives and Participation Processes, A.C. (Alternativas y Procesos de Participación, A.C.)
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10:45–11:00

Break

11:00–12:45

Session 5: The CEC’s Mandate, Projects, Initiatives

The CEC offers a unique platform to increase collaboration and knowledge-sharing between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities in the three countries, which share ecosystems and migratory species and can benefit from a continental approach to sustainable freshwater management.

This session will assess potential opportunities to utilize the CEC’s mandate to advance the interests of Indigenous peoples, as well as apply TEK directly to the CEC’s operations and policy recommendations and will also identify key areas of collaboration with Indigenous and local communities. A CEC representative will provide an overview of the CEC’s activities and decisions to contextualize the CEC’s work so that participants can offer concrete ideas and recommendations.

Presenters:

Julian Portilla
Consultant in Mediation, Facilitation and Multistakeholder Consensus-building Processes

Jorge Daniel Taillant
CEC Executive Director
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12:45–13:00

Closing Remarks

Amelia Reyna Monteros Guijon
TEKEG member

13:00–14:00

Lunch [provided]

14:00–17:30

Field trip

29 November 2023

JPAC Public Forum on Community-based Conservation of Freshwater Resources: Forging Alliances for Water Stewardship

The environmental challenges our nations face today, as a result of climate change, are impacting society as a whole but, in particular, Indigenous and local communities, as well as underserved populations. Properly managing freshwater resources to address increased pollution, habitat degradation, and extreme weather events, has never been more critical. Across North America, managing this precious resource is a shared concern for communities, governments, and industry. Community-led conservation to shape and manage land and waters, as well as drive biodiversity outcomes, has never been more critical.

This JPAC public forum will bring together community leaders, nongovernmental organizations, and other key actors to discuss water management strategies and highlight community-led efforts to address the multifaceted aspects of freshwater conservation and its sustainable use, with a strong focus on partnerships and alliances.

Time Zone: Central Time

8:00–9:00

Registration of Public Participants

9:00–9:15

Welcoming Ceremony

9:15–9:20

Opening Remarks

Octaviana V. Trujillo
JPAC Chair

9:20–9:30

Welcoming Remarks

Jorge Daniel Taillant
CEC Executive Director

9:30–11:00

Session 1: Restoring Access to Water–The Long Road

This session will provide an overview of the challenges and opportunities for equitable water management, including different approaches to water rights/tenure/title and efforts to restore historical access and legal title to waters.

Moderator: Felicia Marcus
JPAC member
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Canada: Kathy Hodgson-Smith
TEKEG Facilitator
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Mexico: Rodrigo Gutiérrez Rivas
Researcher and Coordinator of the Human Rights Area, UNAM (National Autonomous University of Mexico) Legal Research Institute
Mexico
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United States: James C. Hopkins
Associate Clinical Professor, Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy Program, and Affiliated Professor of American Indian Studies & Latin American Studies), University of Arizona
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11:00–11:10

Break

11:10–12:45

Session 2: Responsible Watershed Management Practices

Sustainable water management practices are essential for maintaining the delicate balance between human water needs and environmental preservation. By implementing sustainable strategies and collaborating with different sectors, we can mitigate the adverse effects of water pollution, habitat degradation, and climate change. This session will explore the intricate relationship between forests and upper watershed management.

Moderator: Esteban Escamilla Prado
JPAC member

Canada: Leila M Harris
Professor, University of British Columbia and Director, UBC Program on Water Governance
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Mexico: María Luisa Soto Moreno
Coordinator, Topia Comprehensive Forest Conservation and Development Unit (Unidad de Conservación y Desarrollo Forestal Integral Topia S.C.)
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Mexico: Ana Tejero Aranda
Environmental Unit Coordinator, Oaxaca State Coordinator of Coffee Producers (Coordinadora Estatal de Productores de Café de Oaxaca, CEPCO)
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United States: Jennifer Pitt
Colorado River Program Director, National Audubon Society
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12:45–12:55

Report from the National and Governmental Advisory Committee Representatives

Vince Nathan and Austin Nunez
NAC Chair / GAC Chair
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12:55–14:10

Lunch [Provided]

14:10–14:30

Overview of SEM Process

Paolo Solano
Director, Submissions on Enforcement Matters and Legal Unit
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14:30–16:00

Session 3: Water Restoration: Collaborations between Communities and Governments

This session will highlight successful community-driven initiatives for sustainable water resource management, emphasizing the importance of local involvement and ownership, the interconnectedness of water with biodiversity, shared environments, and sustainable practices. Speakers will showcase successful collaborations involving governments, industry and local communities.

Moderator: Robert Varney
JPAC member

Canada: Annie Firomski
Environmental Disaster Recovery Coordinator, Energy, Infrastructure and Resource Management, Manitoba Métis Federation—National Government of the Red River Métis
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Mexico: Nadir Hernández Quiroz
Coordinator, Center for Indigenous Rights Flor y Canto A.C. (Centro de Derechos Indígenas Flor y Canto A.C)
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United States: Nick Wobbrock
Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer, Blue Forest Conservation
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16:00–16:10

Break

16:10–17:15

Open Dialogue on Opportunities for Environmental Trilateral Cooperation and other issues

This segment will provide an opportunity for invited experts, NGOs, government representatives and the public at large, to share other examples of successful collaborations/alliances and to raise other issues they wish to share with JPAC.

17:15–17:30

Closing remarks

17:30

Adjournment