Farjana Ferdous

Uneven Access to freshwater resources : A third world conditions on First nations in

Introduction

Canada is naturally gifted with about 9% of the world’s fresh water (Boyd, 2003) with 755,180 square kilometres of fresh water surface area (Matsuri, 2012). It is also blessed with over one million lakes, including part ownership of the Great Lakes, and massive ice fields who has a population of less than one per cent of the world's total. According to the , fresh water is the most important natural resource for their country. They ranked freshwater ahead of forests, agriculture, oil and fisheries (Rob De Loe, 2009). Canadians are reported to use water as the highest rate in the world on a per capita basis by paying the least amount for water (McKanna,

2000). Reliable water supplies, innovation in water treatment technologies, sufficient water operator knowledge are the main reasons behind this peaceful consumption of water (Patrick,

2011). But unfortunately, urban Canadians are enjoying and sometimes wasting safe and plentiful clean water flowing freely from a tape, while for many First Nation communities, it is still a luxury they cannot afford. And awareness of the importance of clean, safe water in a sustainable manner has only been restricted for the ''important places" of Canada.

According to the Chairs of the World Bank and World Water Commission, the wars of the twenty-first century will be fought over water (de Villiers 1999). Though not war, but the First nation people started to raise their voice against the industrial development projects that threaten the water of their traditional territory, in the twenty first centaury (Blackstock, 2001). For example, the Cheslatta First Nation near Burns Lake, , made a successful struggle in preventing Alcan’s Kemano II hydroelectric project (Carrier Sekanni Tribal Council, Farjana Ferdous

1994). The James Bay Cree resistance to the Great Whale Hydroelectric project was another struggle of native people against the Government (Ettenger, 1998).

Though the Government of Canada states that they are aware of improving health and safety of

First Nation communities (Canada's Economic Action Plan, 2014), many First Nation people still struggling to have access of safe freshwater in their communities. Aboriginal Affairs and

Northern Development Canada released the result of comprehensive National Assessment of

First Nation water and watershed systems in 2011 which showed more needs to be (Canada's

Economic Action Plan, 2014).

Contaminated water and Drinking Water Advisories

In a developed country like Canada, it is not expected to have contamination in public water supply. But surprisingly, about 30% water systems of First Nation communities are categorized as highly risked systems which are responsible for the water-borne infections that is 26 times higher than the Canadian national average (Eggerton, 2006). Most of the water treatments plants are old enough and problematic and unable to produce pure drinking water. Water contamination cases like Walkerton, Ontario (in 2000) and North Battleford, Saskatchewan (in 2001) were highly publicised and had huge public inquiry and resulted in new provincial drinking water legislation and new investments in water treatment technology. But unfortunately, the First

Nation communities do not get the same level of attention as well as response regarding their consumption of unsafe drinking water for so many years (Patrick, 2011). According to Emma

(2015), 126 out of the 600 First Nation communities (Boyd, 2011) in Canada are under a drinking water advisory. Farjana Ferdous

Drinking water advisory (DWA) is the preventative measure in order to save public health from suspected or confirmed microbial or chemical contamination. It is issued after confirmation of water supply contamination with microbial organisms or chemical substance (Health Canada,

2009). DWAs includes boil water advisories, water quality advisories, do not use/ consume advisories, precautionary drinking water advisories, and any other advisory for drinking water

(Emma, 2015).

Figure 1: Drinking water advisories by Jurisdiction (redrawn from Emma, 2015)

It is known that more than half of Manitoba's 63 First Nation communities are under DWA for more than a decade (CBC news, Oct 2015) and 282 people of Neskantanga First Nation in northern Ontario are under DWA for more than 20 years (Eggerton, 2008). By January 2015, 169 Farjana Ferdous

DWAs have been reported in 126 First Nation communities. Figure 1 shows that Ontario has the highest number of DWAs for First Nation communities (79), followed by British Columbia (35),

Saskatchewan (24), Alberta (17), the Atlantic (7) and Quebec (2). First Nation communities of

Pikangikum in Ontario, Kitcisakik in Quebec, St. Theresa Point, Wasagamack, Red Sucker Lake and Garden Hill in Manitoba, and Little Buffalo in Alberta are the sufferers who still lack running water, indoor toilets as well as access to safe drinking water (Fallding, 2010).

Health Issues of Firs Nation communities in Canada

Amongst the provinces, Manitoba reserves are known to experience the worst water problems in the country as 6% houses on reserves of this province has no water service at all. Housing issues like lack of pure drinking water, flushing toilets, lack of sewage services, poor ventilation are the common pictures of many First Nation communities that results huge health problems specially for the children since they are more vulnerable than adults. First Nation children are more prone to food and water borne diseases like Giardiasis, Hepatitis A, Shigellosis etc (The health of First

Nation children and the environment, 2008). Moreover, contaminated environment in terms of water and air is also responsible for deteriorating health of First Nation communities. Dental decay rates of First Nation children are recorded to have at least four times higher for the

Manitoba reserves and two to five times higher for Ontario reserves compare to the non- aboriginal Canadians (The health of First Nation children and the environment, 2008).

In Neskantaga, Ontario, majority of the children have sores that continue to multiply and due to limited access to doctors and nurses, they even do not get proper diagnosis and medical treatment

(CBC news, Oct 6, 2015). In the Island lake area near Manitoba, children experience various types of skin diseases and are suggested by the doctors to use clean water regularly. But the Farjana Ferdous community people were unable to do that since they have no running water and are allowed to get only about ten litres of treated water per person a day from a community tape while United

Nations consider fifty litres of clean water per person a day to meet their basic needs (No running water, 2015).

Individ- ual health

Social Commu First & -nity Nation cultural health health health

Environ -mental Health

Figure 2: First Nation's determinants of health (redrawn from The health of First Nation children and the environment, 2015)

It is believed that to have a total health of the First Nation communities, we should be aware of its interconnected determinants- individual health, community health, social and cultural health and environmental health (The health of First Nation children and the environment, 2015). And evidently, environmental health is the main determinant since the other three determinants are dependent on it. An environmentally healthy First Nation community can make sure the community to be healthy individually and socially. Therefore, it is high time for the provincial Farjana Ferdous and federal governments to take a vital step regarding water issue so that First Nations have the equal health and safety protection for drinking water as other Canadians.

References:

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Blackstock, 2001. Water: A First Nations’ spiritual and ecological perspective. B.C. Journal of

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Carrier Sekanni Tribal Council. 1994. The Watershed. 1(3).

CBC news, Oct 6 2015. Neskantaga First Nation demands action on 20-year boil-water advisory.

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