ABSTRACT
Academics, governmental and nongovernmental environmental managers, as well as policymakers, often seek practical guidance principles and specific strategies to improve partnerships with Indigenous peoples focused on conservation, ecological restoration, and environmental protection in the Great Lakes region. This chapter focuses on the largest study to date that collectively develops and analyzes case examples of partnerships led or deeply influenced by Indigenous partners. These partnerships focused on outcomes tied to conservation, ecological restoration, and environmental protection in the region. Based on an analysis of some examples and focus groups with Indigenous practitioners and their close partners, the chapter develops seven key principles to help cooperative institutions create robust and lasting partnerships. They are: principle of self-determination; principle of early involvement; principle of intergenerational involvement; principle of continuous cross-cultural education; principle of balance of power and decision-making; principle of respect for Indigenous knowledge; and principle of control of knowledge mobilization.
