Today, August 27, International Indian Treaty Council Associate Director Roberto Múkaro Borrero represented IITC during the High Level World Lake Day commemoration at United Nations Headquarters in New York. Addressing how Indigenous Peoples can contribute to sustainable lake management, Borrero offered a direct response: “First, we need to be asked.”
Borrero emphasized that Indigenous Peoples are already protecting lakes, rivers, wetlands, aquifers, and watersheds through their traditional knowledge, governance systems, spiritual responsibilities, and generations of direct environmental observation. He stressed that Indigenous Peoples are rights-holders—not merely stakeholders—and must be included from the beginning as decision-makers and co-governors. Where decisions may affect Indigenous lands, waters, treaty rights, sacred places, or cultural heritage, free, prior and informed consent must be upheld.
Drawing attention to Indigenous concerns surrounding the Great Lakes and the Line 5 pipeline, as well as the interconnected freshwater systems affecting the Kalinago People of Wai’tukubuli (Dominica), Borrero called for a source-to-sea approach to water protection. His recommendations included distinct mechanisms for Indigenous participation, direct funding for Indigenous-led monitoring and restoration, and strong protections for Indigenous knowledge and data sovereignty.
“Indigenous Peoples are not asking simply to contribute information to sustainable lake management. We are calling for our rights, governance systems, and responsibilities to water to be respected.”
See Borrero’s full statement below.
Presentation for World Lake Day 27 August 2026
#WorldLakeDay #IndigenousPeoples #WaterIsLife #IITC #FPIC #IndigenousRights #GreatLakes #SourceToSea #UNWater
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IITC Associate Director Addresses World Lake Day at United Nations Headquarters
Today, August 27, International Indian Treaty Council Associate Director Roberto Múkaro Borrero represented IITC during the High Level World Lake Day commemoration at United Nations Headquarters in New York. Addressing how Indigenous Peoples can contribute to sustainable lake management, Borrero offered a direct response: “First, we need to be asked.”
Borrero emphasized that Indigenous Peoples are already protecting lakes, rivers, wetlands, aquifers, and watersheds through their traditional knowledge, governance systems, spiritual responsibilities, and generations of direct environmental observation. He stressed that Indigenous Peoples are rights-holders—not merely stakeholders—and must be included from the beginning as decision-makers and co-governors. Where decisions may affect Indigenous lands, waters, treaty rights, sacred places, or cultural heritage, free, prior and informed consent must be upheld.
Drawing attention to Indigenous concerns surrounding the Great Lakes and the Line 5 pipeline, as well as the interconnected freshwater systems affecting the Kalinago People of Wai’tukubuli (Dominica), Borrero called for a source-to-sea approach to water protection. His recommendations included distinct mechanisms for Indigenous participation, direct funding for Indigenous-led monitoring and restoration, and strong protections for Indigenous knowledge and data sovereignty.
“Indigenous Peoples are not asking simply to contribute information to sustainable lake management. We are calling for our rights, governance systems, and responsibilities to water to be respected.”
See Borrero’s full statement below.
Presentation for World Lake Day 27 August 2026
#WorldLakeDay #IndigenousPeoples #WaterIsLife #IITC #FPIC #IndigenousRights #GreatLakes #SourceToSea #UNWater