Although there are opportunities for engaging with the IJC through formal processes such as board participation, hearings and public comment periods on references and applications, there also are less structured ways of connecting with the IJC and its boards on projects and information sharing.
IJC International Watersheds Initiative
The IJC’s International Watersheds Initiative (IWI) began in 1998 at the request of Canada and the United States for the Commission to address transboundary watershed issues using a holistic ecosystem approach.
A key component of the IWI is to support projects within transboundary basins where the Commission has a mandate relating to water quality, levels and flows, or ecosystem health. All projects are brought forward through IJC boards for consideration and often benefit from partnerships with local organizations. Several IWI projects in recent years have been conducted in partnership with local Indigenous nations and organizations.
A second key feature of the IWI is the creation of IJC watershed boards whose mandates reflect the need to monitor and address water quality, ecosystem health, and water levels and flows. To embrace a holistic approach to resolving watershed issues, the IJC recognizes the importance of appointing members to its watershed boards who reflect a diversity of views and interests, including First Nations, the Métis Nation and Tribal Nations.
For more information on the International Watersheds Initiative, please see the 25th Anniversary Showcase Report. For more information on recent IWI collaborations with Indigenous groups, please refer to section C in the chapter list on the left of this page.
Participation and Engagement with IJC Boards
The IJC’s boards are the link between the Commission and watershed communities. They serve as the main communication path between people living and working in binational watersheds and the IJC. Board composition is intended to foster best outcomes for the watershed based on diverse yet complementary perspectives and should serve to facilitate the sharing of information between local populations and the IJC. As such, many IJC boards have Indigenous members who share their knowledge, experience and expertise for the betterment of all interests in the basin.
To become engaged in issues related to binational water management in transboundary basins, IJC boards are often an ideal starting point to share and obtain information.
To see where IJC boards currently operate, please see the Boards, Studies and Committees page.