Exploring Issues within Canada's Indigenous Populations - Water Rights and Access
Social/Cultural Implications
Everyone deserves the right to clean water
Why should indigenous people be treated as third class?
Political Implications
Privatization of water plants
The federal governments fears privatizations because it would result in a loss of power and control
Access to clean water for these smaller communities is not a priority for politicians
Economic Implications
Current situation is unsustainable
Shoal Lake spends $150,000 a year importing bottled water
Environmental Implications
The reserves have access to water nearby; they simply need the resources to clean that water
Causes
The federal and local governments are not prioritizing the institutions of these much needed water treatment plants for reserves in particular
Federal funding is inadequate to provide proper water and waste treatment systems
Concern
169 First Nations communities/reserves have been under "boil water advisories" and/or "Do Not Consume" orders for almost 20 years
Possible Solutions
Self-government for indigenous communities
Shoal Lake 40 has proposed to build a road to connect its community to the TransCanada highway: this would allow them easy access to build the much-needed water plant system
Historical Legacies
Overtime, governments have taken advantage of unfair treaties signed generations ago