Updates & Events

Water Without Borders?

New Book: Governing Transboundary Waters

January 11, 2015
Emma Norman bookNorman, E.S. (2015) Governing transboundary waters: Canada, the United States and indigenous communities. New York, Routledge.

This book explores how colonial politics impact water governance – particularly for Indigenous communities spanning international borders.  The book examines the cultural politics of ‘transboundary water governance’ in a postcolonial context and highlights how Indigenous-led efforts are reframing water governance and politics. The hopeful cases provide insight into the power of reframing water governance by and for Indigenous Peoples.

Endorsement: Bringing together politics of coloniality and indigenous struggles for territorial, cultural and resource rights with water politics at the US-Canada border, this work makes significant conceptual and policy relevant contributions. Skillfully weaving diverse narratives, experiences, and moments of relevance for Indigenous communities on both sides of the border, the book makes for an inspiring read that explores key debates for contemporary water governance. – Karen Bakker and Leila Harris, Co-Directors, Program on Water Governance, University of British Columbia, Canada.

For more information, or to purchase a copy of this text, visit  http://www.routledge.com/books/details/9780415838597/


Emma Norman at Stanford

May 31, 2013
Stanford University

Emma S. Norman is participating in the Woods Institute for the Environment’s Roundtable on Water. The theme of the discussion is ‘Divining Water’: Locating the Socio-Political Contexts of Water.


Land & Water Session at AAG

April 12, 2013
Los Angeles

Alice Cohen (WWB editor and SSHRC postdoctoral fellow) and Christina Cook(postdoctoral fellow at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem) co-organized a session at the Annual Meeting of the Association of American Geographers.  The session was called “Connecting Land Governance and Water Governance“, and brought together leading experts on the topic from around the world.


World Water Day

March 22, 2013
Wordwide

UN World Water Day logo
World Water Day is held annually on 22 March as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.

In 2013, in reflection of the International Year of Water Cooperation, World Water Day is also dedicated to the theme of cooperation around water and is coordinated by UNESCO in collab­oration with UNECE and UNDESA on behalf of UN-Water.


Canadian Water Resources Association

March 7, 2013
Vancouver

The BC Branch of the Canadian Water Resources Association held a special session highlighting the Water without Borders? book project.

Presentors at the conference included co-editor Dr. Emma S. Norman, who provided an overview of the book project and discussed key themes, Merrell-Ann Phare, who discussed water quality and governance in a First Nations context, and Richard Paisley, who discussed the upcoming Columbia River Treaty renegotiation.

The presentations were followed by a well-attended and lively panel discussion.

Emma presenting
Dr. Emma S. Norman

Merrell-Ann, Emma, and Richard on the discussion panel at CWRA
Merrell-Ann Phare, Emma Norman, and Richard Paisley


Karen Bakker at the IJC

February 14, 2013
Vancouver

Professor Karen Bakker addressed the members of the Canada-US Boundary Waters International Joint Commission at the invitation of UBC President Stephen Toope, on the subject of Canada-US transboundary water governance.