Respecting water: Indigenous water governance, ontologies, and the politics of kinship on the ground

Indigenous peoples' views of water as a living entity or relative, rooted in a politics of kinship, starkly contrast with settler societies' resource-oriented perspective. This study reveals that ontological differences between Indigenous and settler water governance perpetuate conflicts, often suppressed by colonial structures. Through a case study of four Yukon First Nations—Carcross/Tagish, Kluane, Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in, and White River—researchers analyze Indigenous water ontologies, emphasizing the concept of 'respecting water.' The findings highlight how modern land claims and self-government agreements reflect settler-colonial assumptions, underscoring the need for alternate governance models that integrate Indigenous perspectives. This work bridges critical Indigenous studies, post-humanism, and water governance to challenge dominant paradigms.

Wilson, N. J., & Inkster, J. (2018). Respecting water: Indigenous water governance, ontologies, and the politics of kinship on the ground. Environment and Planning E: Nature and Space, 1(4), 516–538. https://doi.org/10.1177/2514848618789378