WE Stand Together Connection Points Despite billions of dollars in funding and a campaign pledge from the Liberal government, there are still drinking water advisories in First Nations communities today. What are the causes of water issues in First Nations communities? How have these water issues been addressed? How can we move toward a solution? As part of the 2016 federal budget, the Liberal government committed $1.8 billion to How to take action water and wastewater infrastructure for First Nations communities over the course Unlike provincial and territorial of five years1. This commitment is part of a project working toward ending boil regulations for drinking water and water advisories on reserves across Canada. Despite this, water advisories still affect sanitation, there are no enforced many First Nations communities1, leaving families vulnerable to sickness due to a regulations on reserves in Canada4. lack of clean drinking water. Allocating appropriate resources On the border of Manitoba and Ontario, isolated from the mainland, residents of on behalf of the government is Shoal Lake 40 First Nation have been unable to drink the community water since important in tackling the water crisis 19982—struggling with sickness related to unsafe drinking water for more than 20 in Indigenous communities. Learn years. The lack of year-round road access made it incredibly expensive to bring in more about clean water strategies in materials and supplies to build a water treatment plant. In June 2017, construction First Nations communities in Canada. was started on Freedom Road3, a road that will connect the community back to the Find out who is responsible for these mainland and potentially one day end the boil water advisory. The completion of projects and determine how you can this road will support this community in moving on to the next development phase: take action to support them. To learn a water treatment plant. more, visit www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/ eng/1506514143353/15065142307425. Meet: Nathaniel Harper Nathaniel Harper, a Métis student from Winnipeg, Manitoba, has a passion for protecting water in his community. He has grown up with a strong understanding of the importance of access to clean water and has been working with his class to protect and care for the water in the Red River. At school, Nathaniel and his classmates sing a Dakota water song to bless and pray for the water. And in the spring when the water in the river begins to flow, they place an offering of sage, cedar and tobacco to help the Red River heal. Nathaniel says it’s important to protect and care for the water, as well as give thanks to the water you drink and use every day, using the word Miigwetch, meaning thank you in Ojibwe. Connect further! www.lsf-lst.ca/en/projects/teacher-resources/additional-resources/ protecting-our-sacred-water6 WE Stand Together Connection Points Since 2013, Orange Shirt Day7 has been recognized by schools and individuals across the country in an effort to come together for reconciliation and show support and respect for Indigenous peoples for generations to come. What are other ways people in Canada can recognize the wrongdoings of the past and work toward a more respectful future? Inspired by the story of Phyllis Webstad, the Orange Shirt Day campaign originated in How to take action Williams Lake, B.C., in 20137. Webstad was one of approximately 150,000 Indigenous Orange Shirt Day is recognized every children removed from their communities and sent to a government-funded, church- year on September 30. Take action by run residential school. When she arrived at school on her first day, school officials took organizing and participating in an event away the flashy new orange shirt her grandmother bought her—she never saw the with your school or community. You can shirt again. Orange Shirt Day8 now serves as a day to remember residential school also use this day to start conversations survivors, their families and the ones who are no longer with us today. about the history of residential schools, From 1929 to 1996, Indigenous children attended Residential schools, which often the lasting impacts and how we can removed them from their communities and the influence parents had in the spiritual, move toward a more respectful and cultural and intellectual development of First Nations, Métis and Inuit children. inclusive country through reconciliation. Research and share stories of residential The untreated trauma-related stress associated with residential schools was then school survivors to help spread 9 passed on to the next generation, causing intergenerational trauma . The scope awareness of the wrongdoings of the of damage was not understood until years later. past and learn from Indigenous elders about how to create a better future. In 2008, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada was established as a response to the charges of abuse that Indigenous children experienced in residential schools. In 2015 they released 94 calls to action10 to begin the process of reconciliation. Meet: Cody Coyote Cody Coyote is an Ojibwe artist taking the hip hop world by storm—but things have not always been easy for him. One of the many challenges Cody faced in high school was bullying due to his long hair. This bullying added to the stresses he was facing from the struggles of disconnection between himself and his Indigenous culture. Being the victim of bullying for years led him down a road of anger, violence, substance abuse and conflict with the law. That’s when Cody began to turn to poetry, and later music, as an outlet, using a studio at school as both a safe place from bullies and an opportunity to explore his creativity. Cody later became more involved with community initiatives and cultural practices, which helped him on his healing journey—a journey that now includes nominations for Single of the Year and Best Rap/Hip-Hop CD at the 2015 Indigenous Music Awards, an #OC150 Award from Parliament Hill in 2017, as well as musical performances, public speaking and workshop facilitation across Canada. Now Cody is sharing his passion for positive change in communities across Canada and helping others take action against bullying. Connect further! www.trc.ca11 www.orangeshirtday.org/8 WE Stand Together Connection Points In April 2017, the Canadian government and Métis Nation signed the Canada-Métis Nation Accord, which is set to be the foundation for a renewed nation-to-nation relationship12. Six months later, the Métis National Council publicly urged the government to address concerns over discriminatory practices against Métis Nation veterans. Why do you think their services were not sufficiently recognized prior to this agreement? At least 3,000 First Nations members13 were enlisted in the Second World War, as well How to take action as a number of Inuit and Métis people. Since then, all soldiers, except the Métis Nation, In 2016, Canada’s top court ruled that have been recognized for their service. While many of the Métis Nation members Métis are now under the jurisdiction of who served have since passed, the remaining are urging the federal government to the federal government. Prior to this, formally recognize the sacrifices they made while serving the country14. non-status Indians* and Métis were not In September 2017, Veterans Affairs Minister Seamus O’Regan issued a statement15 considered “Indians” under the 1867 in regards to Métis veterans, saying that each and every veteran should be cared for Constitutional Act16, meaning that the and their service should be respected. The statement explained that the government federal government did not have the same would begin work immediately to address the Métis Nation veterans’ concerns responsibility to them as to status Indians surrounding discriminatory practices and, in the spirit of reconciliation, take concrete and Inuit people. Before this ruling, Métis action to address these findings. and non-status Indians were deprived of significant funding for programs, services Métis National Council President Clement Chartier is leading the push for the and other benefits from the government. government to recognize Métis veterans, saying that the country they served has Discuss with your peers what impacts this not served them well in return. He is hopeful for results now that the process has will have moving forward. Then learn more begun, but with only a few veterans left, he’s disappointed that many have already about a Métis veteran’s story and share passed without receiving the recognition they deserved. the story of their incredible service with your class. * The word “Indians” is a government term. Spotlight on: Henry Louis Norwest Henry Louis Norwest was born on May 1, 1884, in Fort Saskatchewan. He was of French-Cree descent and was a rodeo performer and ranch-hand before he enlisted in the Canadian Army. Henry was one of the most famous Canadian snipers in the First World War, with a record of 115 documented fatal shots, and was known for sniping the enemy after capturing a peak on Vimy Ridge, called “The Pimple.” On August 18, 1918, three months before the war ended, Henry was killed by a sniper on the battlefield. For many, a hero who saved countless lives had been lost. At a time when Métis soldiers were not recognized for their service, Henry was posthumously awarded a Bar to his Military Medal for his bravery and skill. Despite his contributions, his name was not initially included on the Branch #27 Cenotaph. In 2004, members of RCL #27 added his name with his descendants present. Connect further! www.firstnationsdrum.com/2015/11/remembering-henry-louie- norwest/17 www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/those-who-served/aboriginal- veterans/native-soldiers/norwest/18 WE Stand Together Connection Points The federal government has pledged to take action to address Inuit people who experienced relocations and mistreatment in the tuberculosis epidemic19 between the 1940s and 60s.