Two-thirds of First Nations have been under at least

one water advisory and, according to Joanne Levasseur

and Jacques Marcoux of CBC News, 400 out of 618

First Nations in the country have had a water problem.

The Globe and Mail, in an article by Matthew McClearn (2017), reported that about 57,000 people living on 101 reserves across Canada obtain water from treatment plants and pipe networks the government deem to be “high risk”. An analysis of federal data shows that the government fears they could fail under adverse conditions, such as a sudden deterioration in source-water quality. Another 95,000 are served by “medium risk” systems located on 167 reserves.

                                                                                                                         “It’s absolutely outrageous,” said Cindy Blackstock, director of the                                                                                                                              First Nations Child and Family Caring Society and associate                                                                                                                                          professor at the University of Alberta, “that very absolute necessity                                                                                                                            of life is being denied to a whole group of people in this country as                                                                                                                            wealthy as ours” 

              Middle River BC First Nation: Nation consists has 12 homes for which a boil advisory has been in effect for 14 years.

“In a country as wealthy as Canada, home to 20 per cent of the                                                                                                                      world’s fresh water, we can and we must fulfil the promise to                                                                                                                          ensure everyone has clean water no matter where they live”                                                                                                                                        said Alaya Boisvert, public engagement manager with the                                                                                                                                  David Suzuki Foundation (2018).

                Xeni Gwet’ First Nation: There has been a 17 year water ban for the Nation’s 252 people. $3.2 Million was spent on water                            purification and the Nation is still under a water ban.

                                                                                                                           “It’s very upsetting. We live in Canada but on reserve it feels like                                                                                                                                 Third World conditions,” said Nazko Chief Stuart Alec. “Drinking,                                                                                                                                 bathing — it’s pretty appalling these conditions exist in this                                                                                                                                         country”.

                  Kahkewistahaw First Nation: With 650 people living on-reserve, the government spent $3.8 million on an upgrade. Chief                          Evan B.G.Taypotat: “…upgrade that didn’t do much!”.

The lack of drinking water is acute among the First Nations, or indigenous tribes. The government has identified 250 reserves (with 150,000 people and over 15,000 homes) suffering from contaminated water issues.