ABORIGINAL WATER ISSUES WATER REPRESENTATION FOR FIRST NATION

ABORIGINAL WATER ISSUES

WATER REPRESENTATION FOR FIRST NATION PEOPLE • Water is very important to their value system and must be taken care of • Water is to be RESPECTED • It is considered a living entity • There is a spiritual connection with water • “Give thanks, through a drink of water in the morning, for life”

WHAT IS THE ISSUE? • Aboriginals are struggling to find clean drinkable water as the water from the lakes and rivers where they live is unsanitary • The solutions the Government provides is not good enough • Out of date water treatment plants that constantly need to be fixed • Excessive chlorine levels that are put in the water to kill bacteria give people rashes • The 2 liters of water everyone gets per day is not enough • They have had no progress in 18 years (in Attawapiskat) • There is no SUSTAINABLE solution being offered that

Part of the problem: LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE INFRASTRUCURE: The basic physical systems of a nation ; • Transportation (ex; TTC) • Sewage systems • Water systems • Electric systems. These are costly investments but are necessary to a country’s economic development and prosperity

WHAT IS THE GOVERNMENT DOING?

THE RIGHT TO DRINKABLE WATERWHO’S IN CHARGE? • This is a Provincial Government issue • First Nation rights are, however, under Federal jurisdiction • Implementing “Band aid” solutions • Bill S-8 was in Parliament for ibility s n o p he res bility t Drinkable water rights for Native s nsi t pas o s p u s j e r 8 Canadians Bill Sonto provincial

What is a band aid solution? BAND AID SOLUTION* • Temporary solution • Does not actually deal with the problem • Makes people think action is being taken when it’s not • Covering up the problem instead of solving it What is the Band aid s olution being appl ied to the a boriginal water issue s? d le t t o b f o s e s a c Flying in water Using exces sive a of chl m ounts o r i ne to disea kill ses in the w ater

WHAT IS A BOIL WATER ADVISORY? * • A notification issued saying you have to boil your water so that it is safe to use • For drinking • For laundry • For showering • Etc. • There is often bacteria or some sort of contamination that will make you sick