The Price of Gold: Canada’s Ongoing First Nations Water Crisis

Many First Nations communities around Canada—a country with a significant percentage of the world’s freshwater reserves, romanticised as an endless source—see a significant irony every day. While urban communities outside of First Nations reserves have all the clean water they need, there are still 31 long term drinking water advisories spanning through 29 reserves, many of them existing for at least a quarter of a century. This isn’t simply a small failure with Canada’s system, but a violation of human rights in a country where this should logically never happen.

I am not of Indigenous descent and do not speak on behalf of any Indigenous community or individual. This article is written from a research perspective, and I have done my best to write with the aim of raising awareness and sharing information about the ongoing First Nations water crisis in Canada. For authentic voices and perspectives, please seek out Indigenous-led organizations and resources such as those in the sources I listed below.

After large promises made in 2016 by then-Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau to lift all 186 drinking water advisories, there are still 31 outstanding—10 years later. It can be seen that through different years the government has made varying amounts of progress, some surpluses but also many deficits.

While this may seem like a small number, The Council of Canadians quotes that, “A single drinking water advisory can mean as many as 5,000 people lack access to safe, clean drinking water.” (Council of Canadians). This means that up to 155,000 Indigenous people lack access to a basic human right. To be able to drink or at all use their water, they must boil it for at least a minute, further waiting for it to cool. (Indigenous Foundation). This is not only time consuming, but expensive, and just simply not a justifiable reality for many people.

One mother even discusses that she must, “sponge [her son with a skin disease] with bottled water from the jugs, clean him that way”, the only way she can safely take care of him.

Others have to limit showers for both themselves and their children just to limit exposure to dangerous contaminants such as:

• Bacteria: Such as E. coli and coliform.
• Carcinogens: Including Trihalomethanes.
• Heavy Metals: Such as uranium.

The daily reality for these residents is grueling. Simple acts like brushing teeth or bathing a child become high-risk activities.

When looking into the true causes behind these issues in First Nations communities, we can come to the conclusion on two main sources: gaps in funding and training. The Parliamentary Budget Officer identified deficits amounting to $138 million per year just for the maintenance and operation of basic water systems. However, money isn’t the only root of unclean water, there is a critical shortage of certified water professionals within First Nations communities. Only about 45% and 51% of 143 and 160 First Nations communities respectively in Ontario and British Columbia had water systems with a fully trained certified operator. (Bharadwaj et al.)

This isn’t just a gap of will but a lack of support. Canadians have the resources to provide this essential service but rather choose not to supply it, leaving communities who need it the most to be lacking. Furthermore, the already existing certified operators admit issues in their job, being “understaffed, overworked and underpaid”(Baijius and Patrick)

Born Feb. 21, 1942, Josephine “Grandmother Water Walker” Mandamin was a prominent award winning Anishinabek figure. She is known best for her actions of raising awareness for water pollution and environmental degradation throughout indigenous reserves and great lakes.

At a conference in the year 2000, a friend of hers had a dream where water would cost the same as gold by the year 2030.(Marshall). Refusing to let this dream become a reality, Mandamin committed herself to sharing her “nibi giikendaaswin” (water knowledge) in order to fight for the future and started a group of “Water Walkers”. (Marshall). From 2003 to 2017, she—with her group—walked over 25,000 kilometers around the Great Lakes to raise awareness about water pollution and Indigenous rights.

Mandamin’s protest was somewhat successful, pressuring the government enough to lift 88 of the water advisories hurting Indigenous communities, though some are still outstanding. Throughout her lifetime, she received many awards including a name “Biidaasige-ba” (the one who comes with the light), a lifetime achievement award (2012), and the Governor General’s Meritorious Service Cross (2018). (Museum of Toronto). Sadly, she passed away in 2019, but her legacy continues to live on and her great-neice—Autumn Peltier—, along with her daughter, following in her footsteps.