Across Canada, many Indigenous communities struggle with a persistent lack of clean
drinking water, a crisis that has spanned decades.
Despite repeated promises from federal and provincial governments to address the
issue, dozens of First Nations communities are still living under long-term drinking water
advisories, some of which have lasted decades. For many families in these communities, the
task of accessing safe drinking water is a constant challenge. In remote areas, people are
forced to rely on bottled water, water deliveries, or expensive filtration systems that are often
inadequate. In addition to being located in a remote area, the government only gives a certain
amount of money when it comes to this issue and being located farther away causes it to be
more costly and unaffordable. This ongoing failure to provide clean drinking water is a violation
of human rights and reflects the systemic inequalities faced by Indigenous peoples in Canada.
Indigenous communities furthermore frequently have their waterways and land polluted
by effluence, typically by major corporations. For example, Grassy Narrows Reserve located in
Ontario had a chemical plant dump over 10 tons of toxic mercury into a river upstream from the
community resulting in more than half a decade of unsafe drinking water and ecological
damage. On March 22, 2016, new Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his government's
budget, stating that nearly $4.6 billion would be invested in infrastructure for indigenous
communities, including water and wastewater systems. Financial commitment alone, however,
will not fix the water epidemic on First Nations reserves. Along with investments towards
infrastructure, the Canadian government should work to remedy: the lack of binding regulations
on water quality on First Nations reserves, under-funding and inconsistent budgeting for water
system costs, lack of support for household water and wastewater systems, and worsening
conditions of water.
Food, water, and air – the three most basic human rights. Canada promises
reconciliation, but how is that possible when clean drinking water is crossing the line?
https://www.theindigenousfoundation.org/articles/lack-of-clean-drinking-water-in-indigenous-
communities#:~:text=Specifically%2C%20Indigenous%20communities%20are
%20vulnerable,funding%20to%20combat%20water%20contamination.
https://www.hrw.org/report/2016/06/07/make-it-safe/canadas-obligation-end-first-nations-water-
crisis
