The Hard Work of Shared Stewardship Begins After the Agreement

An agreement to meet regularly can look modest when compared with the land and resources at stake. For governments with different laws, responsibilities and histories, however, the design of a meeting can determine whether cooperation becomes a credible part of decision making. Someone must define the questions, bring the evidence, respect the knowledge of each participant and explain what happens to the recommendations.

Ross River Dena Council and the Government of Yukon announced on November 2 that they had signed a Fish and Wildlife Collaborative Stewardship Agreement on October 14. It establishes a Collaborative Stewardship Authority as a forum for discussing fish, wildlife and habitat in the Ross River Area. The joint release calls it the territory's first collaborative fish and wildlife body established outside a treaty agreement. Each government will appoint two delegates, and the body will make recommendations to both governments. The release describes a process for integrating Tū Łī́dlini Dena laws, customs and traditions with the government's policy and programme framework. It announces an institutional beginning, rather than a verified change in ecological conditions.