In this blog, we will be uncovering the dark truth of the water crisis and sanitation rights among Indigenous communities in Canada. Although water and sanitation has been globally recognized as a vital human right, the federal government of Canada has not made this right a priority for the minority communities of Indigenous peoples. Even to this day, some reserves have water that is deemed undrinkable.
How does lack of clean water affect Indigenous communities?
Water is sacred to Indigenous peoples. It is recognized as a sacred spirit; a living entity. As a result of poor water sanitation, they face obstacles such as:
- Severe housing shortage
- Limited access to foods of cultural importance (fish, shellfish, seals, etc.)
- Financial difficulties
- The need to construct private wells for drinking water
- Increased risk of illnesses such as cancer
Why is drinking water unsafe in Indigenous communities?
20-30% of water systems in Indigenous reserves posed a higher chance of having hazardous drinking water in the last decade. These contaminants are a byproduct of deficient wastewater management both on and off reserves.
Contaminants stem from the reactions of organic materials in untreated source water and the chemicals meant to disinfect it.
Some common and dangerous bacteria strains include:
- Escherichia Coli
- Legionella Pneumophila</li
- CryptoSporidium
- Giardia Lamblia
- Salmonella typhi
Moreover, residents sometimes have to evacuate communities because of the elevated levels of dangerous bacteria in their water. For example, the Escherichia Coli breakout in the Kashechewan reserve led to the evacuation of 1000 residents. Certainly, the lack of clean water in Indigenous communities come with consequences but so does mass evacuations.
What action has the federal government taken in regards to Indigenous water?
26 water advisories are present in different reserves. Water advisories are public health messages to warn people about unsafe drinking water. Some of these advisories have been active for more than 25 years. There is an extreme shortage of funding for maintenance and operation of drinking water systems on reserves. The Parliamentary Budget Officer has identified the amount as $138 million yearly.
In a garish attempt to diffuse this situation, the liberal government has appointed Public Private Partnerships(P3s) as a solution. In the past, P3s have proven to be costly, ultimately leading to the privatization of water and a decrease in community control and job opportunities. These decisions did not improve the quality of life on Indigenous reserves and have actually further harmed Indigenous communities.
Why do water advisories exist?
1. Marginalization
When it comes to important decision making regarding the livelihoods of Indigenous peoples, the targeted communities are often pushed aside and left out of the discussion. The Canadian government has proposed a number of promises and new plans with no intention of fulfilling them. Although they are fully aware about the absence of safe drinking water on Indigenous reserves, they have not taken the appropriate action necessary for positive change. These communities are victims of systemic and environmental racism which causes poor access to clean water in Indigenous communities.
2. Remote Areas
The government sets aside a rather limited amount of money when it comes to clean Indigenous water. Certain reserves are located very far off from their primary water source or neighboring cities. In these scenarios, the affected reserves do not have enough money in their budget to afford continuous water maintenance. Affected reserves located in remote areas have to worry about the access they have to water. These reserves do not have a primary water source nearby causing them to travel great lengths to obtain unsafe drinking water.
3. Inadequate Maintenance of Water Systems
Many communities lack the finances necessary to maintain their water systems long term. The funds these reserves are provided with are simply not enough for continuous maintenance and maintenance required in the future.
Closing Remarks
Hopefully you have discovered new information on this Indigenous water crisis which has affected communities for decades. These communities need strong voices like yours to speak up for them and advocate for their rights. At GSGF, our growing community continues to shed light on these critical matters.
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