On August 12, 2026, the International Joint Commission (IJC) held its third annual in-person meeting between IJC Commissioners and the Indigenous Circle (the Circle) in Kenora, Ontario. By coming together to exchange experience and expertise, the Circle helps the IJC and Indigenous Peoples work alongside one another for the common good of the waters we share.
The meeting was another opportunity to continue momentum and relationship building of the Circle and the IJC by coming together in person. Local First Nation and Métis elders led a water ceremony the morning of the meeting along the shores of the Lake of the Woods, a body of water shared by many Indigenous Nations, Canada and the United States. Gathering directly by the water set a profound foundation for the day, serving as a reminder that water moves freely across human-made borders, connecting all nations, land, and living beings.
Following the water ceremony, the group turned its focus towards developing the outline of a framework for weaving Indigenous science and knowledge into the work of the IJC and its boards, which operate in transboundary watersheds. The framework will serve as a guide for how the IJC and Indigenous Nations and communities can work together to build a safe environment for sharing Indigenous knowledge and science that will contribute to the cooperative management of shared waters. Building strong partnerships between IJC boards and Indigenous Nations is a critical first step in this process.
The group spent much of the day developing and exploring themes for the framework and discussing best practices for weaving Indigenous knowledge and science into the IJC’s work. The Circle also provided guidance on key elements that should be included and how the framework should be structured. Towards the end of the full-day meeting, the group road-tested the framework themes in the context of a hypothetical scenario of working with the IJC.
Before closing the meeting for the day, the group discussed next steps for the Circle and IJC to undertake together. The IJC is thankful for the continued time and energy members have devoted to the Circle and looks forward to deepening this relationship in the future.
