Lessons for Collaboration Involving Traditional Knowledge and Environmental Governance in Ontario, Canada

Abstract

Efforts to incorporate Aboriginal traditional knowledge (TK) into environmental governance regimes in Ontario continue to evolve in urgency, scope and complexity. Both Indigenous and non-Indigenous parties have an interest in seeing such undertakings succeed, and yet errors in implementation continue to derail initiatives on a far too frequent basis. A brief look at the impetus behind current initiatives is provided, followed by highlights of some of the reasons why Aboriginal groups remain cautious in their interactions with outside agencies wishing to utilize and potentially exploit their knowledge. As well, reasons are offered as to why Indigenous peoples continue to see the sharing of TK as necessary in the move towards achieving global sustainability. Finally, lessons from two Ontario examples of attempts at government–First Nation collaboration are presented. Key among these is the finding that early, ongoing and mutually beneficial relationship-building between involved parties is essential to project success.