Water Crisis & Environmental Justice Resources
Water is the source of life and sustenance for all human beings and of great spiritual significance for Indigenous peoples. Canada is water rich and yet there is a serious water crisis in many First Nations communities in this country. Healthy, clean water has been poisoned in one way or another over time and long term drinking water advisories are all too common. In fact, 73% First Nations’ water systems are at high or medium risk of contamination. This is a symptom of the greater issue of environmental racism that is part of the legacy of Treaty in Canada, one that must be understood and addressed as a top priority in this age of Truth and Reconciliation.
“‘As long as the rivers flow, as long as the grass grows, as long as the sun will shine, the Treaties are forever.’ You hear that over and over again and I say those Treaties were broken...Don’t poison us anymore. We will fight you all the way.”
Articles
“Ending long-term drinking water advisories,” Indigenous Services, Government of Canada
“Indigenous Water Poverty: Impacts Beyond Physical Health,” Lalita Bharadwaj & Lori Bradford, U of S Press
“Make it Safe: Canada’s Obligation to End the First Nations Water Crisis,” Human Rights Watch
“Safe Water for First Nations,” The Council of Canadians
“Water Crisis in Canada’s First Nations Communities: Examining the progress towards eliminating long-term drinking water advisories in Canada,” Carina Xue Luo, University of Windsor
“Water is life: Indigenous communities confront environmental racism,” Canadian Union of Public Employees
“World Water Day: The state of drinking water in Indigenous communities,” Ecojustice
Videos
Other Resources
Centre for Indigenous Environment Resources
The Indigenous Environmental Justice Project, York University
Samqwan Water, a short film by activist and educator Pamela Palmater that was part of the 2022 Indigenous Documentary Film Challenge
Still Thirsty for Justice, website for the film about the Grassy Narrows water crisis Thirsty for Justice that is part of a campaign by the Public Service Alliance of Canada, with an easy form to send letter to the federal government and other resources
A Teacher’s Guide to Environmental Racism, presentation by Braden Wylie from Queens University
The Water First Campaign, addressing the Indigenous water crisis in multiple ways
Image detail: Screen capture from Episode 3, Season 1 TREATY ROAD.