Municipal-Indigenous collaboration in climate planning
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Abstract
Climate policy offers an ideal site to build collaborative governance relationships between Canadian municipalities and Indigenous peoples because climate action and decolonization both require a fundamental reworking of settler governance systems. However, few municipal climate action plans show evidence of relationships with Indigenous peoples. This research examines references to Indigenous peoples in published climate action plans from Canadian municipalities of over 20,000 people and urban regional governments. Through a mixed-methods content analysis covering the 139 municipalities and regions with climate action plans, this study finds that only half (69) make any reference to Indigenous peoples, and only about one in five (30) have ongoing working relationships. In most of these 30 ongoing relationships, Indigenous contributions to municipal climate plans are confined to certain topics or defined by engagement processes that ask for input without recognizing Indigenous authority. Truly addressing climate change requires increasing resilience for all people, which necessitates respect for Indigenous self-determination. The goal of this research is to serve as a jumping-off point for the establishment of decolonial partnerships between municipalities and Indigenous peoples.