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Trudeau, Canada, fail to understand depth of First Nations fresh water problems

Trudeau, Canada, fail to understand depth of First Nations fresh water problems

When the prime minister addressed on-reserve water advisories in last week’s English leaders’ debate, he made it sound like the water issue was well in hand. The casual way that Canadians all the way up to and including the prime minister talk about First Nations water issues shows that the country still does not get it. Even in the unlikely event that all water advisories are lifted, First Nations people will still be struggling to access this necessity of life.

From bottled water to tap: Lhoosk’uz Dené Nation finds solution to water troubles

From bottled water to tap: Lhoosk’uz Dené Nation finds solution to water troubles

After two decades of relying on bottled water, members of a B.C. First Nation west of Quesnel will soon be able to drink water directly from the taps in their homes. An approximate $600,000 packaged water treatment system is anticipated to be installed at the Lhoosk’uz Dené Nation this fall. “This has been an important project that chief and council have been pushing for,” said band manager Brenda Thomas. “We’re all excited. For the past 20 years, we’ve never had potable water.”

First Nations workers in Sask. sacrifice wages, vacation to run underfunded water systems

First Nations workers in Sask. sacrifice wages, vacation to run underfunded water systems

Rebecca Zagozewski is the executive director of the Saskatchewan First Nations Water Association, a non-profit organization that works to build First Nations’ capacity to take care and control of their own water services. She says recruitment and retention of water treatment plant operators is a “real problem” on Saskatchewan First Nations, largely because they often can’t pay operators competitive wages.

Canada failed at monitoring waste dumps from mining companies

Canada failed at monitoring waste dumps from mining companies

Canada's federal environment and fisheries departments failed at monitoring waste dumps by mining companies and did not always check if these firms were carrying out plans to save fish from lethal chemicals, Canada's environment commissioner has found.

'It just looks horrible': Black Tickle man wants cleaner, clearer water

'It just looks horrible': Black Tickle man wants cleaner, clearer water

It stains laundry, corrodes pipes and looks terrible. The water that people in Black Tickle use for bathing and doing laundry is treated with chlorine but it remains dark and muddy because of high iron content. "It's almost like either coffee or Coke," resident Sheldon Morris said, "and it stains everything, and that's the worst."

First Nations chiefs blast feds over Potlotek water woes

First Nations chiefs blast feds over Potlotek water woes

On Monday, people in Cape Breton reserve advised not to use tap water to wash clothes, bathe or drink
A group of First Nations chiefs in Atlantic Canada is blasting the federal government for what it sees as a lack of action in fixing the yearlong water problem in Potlotek First Nation in Cape Breton.