Weaving knowledge systems to eradicate drinking water crises in First Nations across Canada.

Abstract

In Canada, First Nations (FN) are the largest of three Indigenous groups who have occupied and lived on the land for thousands of years. With a current population of about 1.1 million, universal access to safe drinking water remains a persistent problem, with advisories a norm rather than an exception in many FN communities. This study examines the Federal Government's approach to resolving the issues of long-term drinking water advisories (LTDWAs) across FN Reserves in Canada. The objective was to determine the acknowledgment and application of FN water principles and values within the federal LTDWA intervention framework. Financial and technical capacity was also explored. Results indicate that the Federal Government's approach to eradicating LTDWA in FN focuses on infrastructure technologies, overlooking other aspects of sustainable water supply, such as advanced source water protection. As such, it overlooked (1) FN water management principles and values; (2) FN strength and capacity to manage their water; and (3) First Nations' right to self-determination. It is argued that the poor attention to FN water principles and values, including the failure to address the issues of financial and technological capacity, undermines FN rights to self-determination and contributes to the continuous presence of LTDWAs in communities.