WATER IS A

SPIRIT

WATER IS LIFE

“WATER IS US

WE ARE

WATER”

“YOU CAN’T

GIVE US SICK

OR DEAD

WATER, IT

MAKES US

SICK”

CHIEF HARVEY LONGBOAT PROVIDED THE GUIDING PRINCIPLE:

• “WE HAVE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN FROM THE PAST, REORIENT OUR

RELATIONS, AND BUILD A RELATIONSHIP BASED ON MUTUAL RESPECT AND

PARTNERSHIP IN THE SHARING OF RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS LAND AND NATURAL

WORLD. TO ACHIEVE THIS, WE MUST TRANSCEND OUR INDIVIDUALISTIC

MOTIVATIONS AND MOVE AWAY FROM THINKING IN MATERIAL TERMS.”

• “IT IS POSSIBLE TO USE THE RESOURCES OF THE WATER IN A BENEFICIAL AND

RESPONSIBLE WAY. IT SIMPLY MEANS THINKING OF ACCOUNTABILITY IN A

DIFFERENT WAY. ACCOUNTABILITY SHOULD MEAN THAT WE UPHOLD OUR

RESPONSIBILITIES AND STRIVE TO ACHIEVE BALANCE NOT ONLY OF THE 'BOOKS'

BUT IN MUCH BROADER TERMS”

• (BLASER ET AL. 2004).

Global Water Futures- IK Honours existing and building relationships between Nations.

In 1990 Oka, the Lubicon, and Six Nations created alliance – it has been maintained

under traditional law.

Lubicon attending “Drum Beat” conference 1991 bringing Nations together for moral

support, land use & IK support. The private discussions can be referred to as the

underground railroad of Indigenous Knowledge, today Ik is finally supported by tri-

council due to the TRC.

LEFT TO RIGHT: Elijah Harper, Denny Auger, Chief Sundown, Chief Ominayak and Chief

Harvey Longboat right next to Chief Ominayak 1991

LATE CHIEF HARVEY LONGBOAT STATED:

“The waters have provided spiritual, ceremonial, social

and functional gifts to the nations, including the people.

Water's energy and power for disciplining and

educating children is reflected in stories and legends

that speak about water being used to encourage more

positive behaviour. They also show our spiritual

dependence on the powerful flow of the river and

clean water. It is important for the water to be clean,

but spiritual, ceremonial and functional uses also

require the unrestricted, moving flow of the current”. (Chief Harvey Longboat; Blaser et al. 2004).

HTTPS://www.facebook.com/dawn.h

ill.7161/videos/vb.1218797259/1

0210460305563454/?type=2&vid

eo_source=user_video_tab

• The foundations of Indigenous Knowledge underscores creations,

interconnection, and inter-dependence of all life forms.

• Building on the CIHR-IAPH funded Ohero:kon, “Under the Husk” youth

program, we will have bilateral training and education of TEK and WS

(Western Science).

• Partnering with the Indigenous

Elders and Youth Council, the

youth will provide cultural

training for researchers and

project partners.

• The primary concerns for the

two communities are

I. The quality of their

drinking water.

II. The ecological integrity

of their source.

III. Governance of these

waters.

Indigenous Knowledge and Community

Team Lead: Dr. Dawn Martin-Hill, Chair ISP, PhD.

SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS THROUGH IK • AMAZON CONSERVATION THEIR MODEL CONSIDERED A BEST PRACTICE AND AGREED TO WORK TOGETHER TO BUILD IK WITHIN U.N.

STRUCTURE

1) ORGANIZE COMMUNITY ELDERS AND YOUTH - VISION OF WHAT CAN BE IN NEXT 20 YEARS

WHAT KINDS OF RESEARCH THEY WOULD LIKE TO DO, PRIORITIES, HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT ARE INTRICATELY TIED TOGETHER.

2) BUILDING INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT WITHIN COMMUNITY – AMAZON CONSERVATION TEAM ONE OF MY PRIOR PARTNERS IN IK

RECLAIMED OVER 1 MILLION ACRES IN BRAZIL (WHERE SPIRITS LIVE)

RECENT VISIT TO NEW ZEALAND TO MEET WITH MAORI & THE WHANGANUI RIVER. GOVERNANCE IS A PRIORITY IN OUR

TEAM, AND WE ARE WORKING WITH UNITED NATIONS INSTITUTE FOR WATER, ENVIRONMENT, AND HEALTH.

3) BRINGING COMMUNITY - INDIGENOUS ACADEMICS TOGETHER TO DEVELOP ACTION PLAN (LEGAL, ECONOMIC, SUSTAINABILITY,

LAND HARVESTING) AND SECURE COLLEAGUES

4) APPLY FOR FUNDING FOR EACH STAGE - IDENTIFIED COMMUNITY EXPERTS (IN OUR CASE ROD WHITLOW, CLYNT KING & PAUL

GENERAL, TREATMENT PLANT, MIKE MONTOUR) CO-INVESTIGATORS KNOWLEDGE GUARDIANS, CEREMONIAL KNOWLEDGE

(CONFEDERACY REPRESENTATIVES, LEROY HILL IS OUR LEAD IK)

BUILD CAPACITY IN COMMUNITY

5) USE TWO ROW AS A FRAMEWORK, FN NEED TO USE THEIR HUMAN RESOURCES EVERY UNIVERSITY HAS INDIGENOUS STUDIES,

EVERY COMMUNITY COULD

The IK paradigm frames history, impacts

of colonialism, and identity, where

emotional-physical wellness and

spirituality are significant indicators in

measuring Indigenous people’s wellness.

The cultural framing from inception to

final analysis weaves Indigenous

epistemologies, pedagogies and

methodologies with western science

creating a holistic assessment of water

and wellness. (Martin-Hill, JAH 2009)

CIHR (Canadian Institute for Health Research)

AS A CHAIR WITH THE CIHR COLLEGE OF REVIEWERS IN DEVELOPING

NEW CRITERIA FOR REVIEWING GRANTS, WE WENT FROM 4% FUNDING FN

TO OVER 60% IN ONE YEAR USING AN ITERAVE REVIEW PROCESS, we closed the gap.

NSERC (National Science & Engineering Research Council)

NSERC- I WAS INVITED TO PRESENT TO NAYLOR’S SCIENTIFIC REVIEW AND STATED

3 THINGS…

INDIGENOUS PEOPLE ALWAYS HAD SCIENCE, IT WAS INTERUPPTED FOR 150 YEARS

SO WE HAVE A LOT OF CATCHING UP TO DO TO SOLVE OUR OWN PROBLEMS

1) WE DO NOT FIT INTO TRI-COUNCIL SILOS - WE NEED TO IMPROVE

INFRASTRUCTURE TO IMPROVE HEALTH AND RECLAIM CULTURE, LANGUAGE, ETC

2) NSERC SHOULD BE A PRIMARY RESEARCH RESOURCE FOR FN, BUT DOES THE LEAST

WITH FN. SO PERHAPS MOVE THE BUDGET OUT % OF NCERC INTO CIHR, IAPH SO

WE COULD ACESS THOSE FUNDS WITH PROPER REVIEWERS

3) ENSURE IK, LOCAL KNOWLEDGE, AND INDIGENOUS SCHOLARS LEAD INDIGENOUS

RESEARCH

A primary innovation of this project is co-development of

research plans and analyses with two indigenous communities,

using the complementary knowledge systems of Indigenous

Knowledge (IK) and western science (WS). IK has a multiplicity of

sources:

including traditional, spiritual, and empirical; it engages a holistic

paradigm that acknowledges the emotional, spiritual, physical,

and mental well-being of a people.

The cultural diversity of Indigenous Peoples is addressed through

the recognition that IK is attached to the language, landscapes,

and cultures from which it emerges. (Martin-Hill, 1990)

PRIMARY FOCUS IS CAPACITY BUILDING OF OUR YOUTH

LOW COST ALL WEATHER - SENSOR TOOLS CO-CREATION INCLUDING APPS WITH IK EXPERTS IN

MOHAWK & CREE

THE WOMEN’S CIRCLE: FOUNDED IN 1992 TO ASSIST IN LAND CLAIM AND ADDRESS POOR HEALTH OF CHILDREN,

THEY NOW HAVE HIGH RATES OF CANCER AND REQUESTED TESTING OF HEAVY METALS IN BLOOD.

1) To pursue innovative research frameworks to facilitate

sharing and integration of western science and Indigenous

and Local Knowledge to monitor source waters

2) To use existing technology and local partners to monitor

surface waters and to assess the safety of drinking water

sources and associated delivery systems in the community

3) To build a network of automated sensors to continually

monitor changes in water-quality in the Six Nations

watershed and in lakes within the traditional territory of

the Lubicon, and where appropriate, to monitor free

chlorine in the communal cisterns used to supply water for

the communities

4) To develop a cloud-based system suitable for

urban/rural/remote locations to retrieve data that can

potentially be accessed via apps on mobile devices

Co-Creation of Indigenous

Water Quality Tools

To co-create effective governance structures and

authorities to deal with water issues that link

Indigenous and western values based on economic,

scientific and spiritual considerations of the First

Nations. Through this process, we are able to

develop better science and governance models for

watershed management.

Co-Creation:

Governance

ECOSYSTEM HEALTH

• A COUPLED HYDROLOGICAL MODEL WILL BE DEPLOYED TO EXPLORE THE BIOPHYSICAL AND HYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES AND FEEDBACKS FOR HYDROLOGIC MODELING.

THE AIM IS TO INVESTIGATE THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON HYDROLOGIC PROCESSES, AND EXPLORING THE AFFECTS ON THE WATER AND ECOSYSTEMS OF THESE COMMUNITIES.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MUST INCLUDE A STRONG YOUTH INCENTIVE COMPONENT. I BROUGHT JOHN

WILLIAMS FORMER PRO-FOOTBALL PLAYER FROM TICATS TO RUN A YOUTH SPORTS CAMP, WE DELIVERED POTABLE WATER, HAMILTON TICATS JERSEY’S AND PRODUCTS THE MUSLIMS WOMEN FROM TORONTO ORGANIZED FOR LUBICON

GIRLS. WE NEED TO REACH PEOPLE IN MEANINGFUL WAYS

Little Buffalo

School

YOUTH CAPACITY – ANY RESEARCH WITH FN MUST INCLUDE TRAINING AND ENGAGING YOUTH. MY CHILDREN WITH LUBICON YOUTH AND SIX

NATIONS YOUTH & MCMASTER FN STUDENTS JOIN IN ALL MEETINGS WITH TEAM. THE GOAL IS TO CREATE SELF-SUFFICIENCY IN WATER RESEARCH.

EACH TEAM LEAD WILL TRAIN YOUTH AND THEY WILL RECEIVE A CERTIFICATE FROM MCMASTER

PLAINS MIDSTREAM PIPELINE LEAK THE PIPELINE STARTS IN THE YUKON AND ENDS IN EDMONTON, BUILT IN 1966. INITIAL INVESTIGATION REVEALS THAT ‘ROUTINE’ MAINTENANCE CONDUCTED INCORRECTLY WAS THE CAUSE OF THE LEAK AND BEGS THE QUESTION AS TO THE CONDITION OF THOUSANDS OF MILES OF AGING INFRASTRUCTURE THROUGHOUT THE PROVINCE.

SENSORS

COULD

HAVE ALERTED

THE

AUTHORITIES,

COMPANY

INSTEAD OF

WAITING FOR A

HUNTER TO FIND

SPILL

RESEARCH TEAM MEETING – EQUITY COMPRISED OF DIVERSITY, GENDER, RACE AND NATIONALITY IS OUR STRENGTH. IT

DOES MATTER.

Approximately 1.5 million Canadians have Indigenous roots, but

the participation of this community in

science and scholarly inquiry continues to be limited. As a small

nation, Canada cannot compete globally

in any realm without strong participation by all communities. The

three granting councils should (R5.7, Naylor Review 2017)

accordingly collaborate in developing a comprehensive

strategic plan to promote and provide long-term

support for Indigenous research, with the goal of enhancing

research and training by and with Indigenous

researchers and communities. The plan should be guided by the

Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s

recommendations on research as a key resource.

Moving Forward

WE ALWAYS HAD SCIENCE, ASTRONOMY, MEDICINE, ENGINEERING, BIOLOGY-IT WAS INTERUPTED. EXAMPLE MAORI STAR NAVIGATION ON WAKA ACROSS PACIFIC

A TRADITIONAL WAKA – MAORI YOUTH USING STAR KNOWLEDGE ONLY TRAVELLED FROM NEW ZEALAND TO SAN FRANCISCO . IK IS APPLICABLE, IT IS SCIENCE AND IT CAN

PROVIDE EVIDENCE

THE HAUDENOSAUNEE FLAG NOW

RAISED

ON THEIR WAKA, ONLY 1 OF 7 IN

THE WORLD

THEY WOULD LIKE TO TRAVEL TO

OUR TERRITORY IF INVITED

JUNE GWF CONFERENCE HOSTED BY MCMASTER

• UPDATE:

• NSERC HAS BEEN JUST STARTED TO

LAUNCH AN INDIGENOUS ADVISORY

BOARD AND INVITED ME AS A MEMBER

• THEY HAVE AGREED TO SPONSOR AN

‘EXCHANGE’ OF FN RESEARCH WITH

ENGINEERS, BIOLOGIST, EARTH

SCIENCES

I WOULD LIKE THE AFN – C.O.O

ENVIRONMENTAL BRANCH TO SPONSOR,

SUPPORT, AND ATTEND THE TWO

SYMPOSIA SO WE CAN MATCH NEEDS OF

FN WITH UNIVERSITY RESEARCHERS

TOGETHER TO BEGIN THE PROCESS

CONSIDERING A DAY SET ASIDE

TO ENGAGE THE 450 PLUS

SCIENTIST WITH FN

VP RESEARCH SUPPORT

SIX NATIONS SUPPORT

NCERC/CIHR-IAPH SUPPORT