UC Davis

This project evaluates the existing literature on Tribal co-management regimes for their success in enabling Indigenous sovereignty and homelands management in the United States and Canada. Developed to inform policy makers and Tribal leaders on co-management frameworks, this systematized thematic literature review analyzes both the practical components of co-management regimes, as well as the intrinsic components which impact their effectiveness. Informed by the anti-colonial praxis of Indigenous Political Ecology, 27 case studies were analyzed according to six metrics of Tribal co-management success: 1) recognition of Tribes as sovereign governments, 2) incorporation of US Trust responsibilities, 3) the existence of structures to enable Tribal involvement, 4) early integration of Tribal management, 5) extensive recognition and incorporation of Tribal expertise, and 6) the effectiveness of conflict resolution processes. Analysis of the case studies showed mixed-results in which co-management regimes produced some benefits but not without caveats and nuance. When executed thoughtfully, co-management can increase Tribal involvement in land management regimes; however it does not result in decolonization. Instead, co-management should be viewed as a possible pathway towards increasing the capacity and political power of Tribes to engage in true decoloniality.