we've given them a day

GlobalCitizen: Canada is one of the wealthiest and most water-rich countries in the world. Yet many of its First Nations communities continue to lack safe drinking water — a basic human right.


We've Given Them a Day

What More Could They Want?

From National News: Canada marks first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Truth: Whose truth?

Reconciliation: (dictionary meaning: the re-establishing of cordial relations). You can't re-establish what was never established.

KAMLOOPS, B.C. — Communities across Canada are set to mark the country's first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation today, honouring Indigenous survivors and children who disappeared from the residential school system. 

• Singing and drumming were scheduled to ring out at 2:15 p.m. ...
• There's a risk the meaning of reconciliation could become "watered down" without substantive action and funding from the Canadian government to address the mental health challenges, addictions, homelessness, discrimination in the health-care system and other social harms related to residential schools ...
• ... lowering flags to half-mast to honour residential school victims and an apology from the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, are needed, but gestures only go so far ...
• "We're one of the most studied groups out there ... Yet we're still dealing with the same old issues over and over again."
• "We're tired of being studied."

GlobalCitizen: 61 Indigenous Communities in Canada Still Face Water Crisis

• The government vowed to end drinking water advisories on Indigenous reserves by March 2021.
• As of February, 61 Indigenous reserves were under long-term drinking water advisories, half of which remain unresolved after more than a decade. These water advisories warn people to either boil water before use, not to consume it, or avoid it altogether because of toxicity levels.

From Jody Wilson-Raybould's recently published book: "Indian" in the Cabinet - Pg. 92:

• In [the] early days, a senior PMO official made a statement in front of the prime minister, members of the government, and public servants that has always stuck with me.  It would come to mind many times during my years as minister. "The prime minister is your brand.  You serve at his pleasure.  You each have a duty to country -- and will need to at some point speak truth to power."
• I took this to heart. I wrote it in my notebook with quotation marks around it.  What I did not realize at the time is that I was not expected to take the last sentence seriously.

How the Government do talk! -  "The Government of Canada is working with First Nations communities to achieve clean drinking water on reserves."

From Canada website: As of September 2021 --

• 117 long-term drinking water advisories lifted since November 2015.
• 45 long-term drinking water advisories in effect in 32 communities.

What's this?
Govt: First Nations control of services

• Indigenous Services Canada's (ISC) mandate includes gradually transferring services to First Nations-led organizations. ISC and First Nations communities are working together to transfer the care and control of water and wastewater services to First Nations bodies. Similar efforts are being made in education, housing and child and family services.

Sounds good except for that word "gradually".

CBC:

• Jody Wilson-Raybould says substantive action must follow symbolism on path toward reconciliation

HillTimes:

• ‘Without further delay’: MPs urge action on Indigenous issues, suggest national monument in Ottawa and independent commission to aid searches of former residential schools

How the gummint do talk!  A national monument won't bring clean water, of course, nor will it erase the evil of the residential schools.

Video: Preparing for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Commenter: "Real nice of the government to give itself a paid holiday over what it did to the indigenous people."

Lots more Videos 

From EcoWatch: This sign goes back to 1995 - as of 2017 (the date of the article) Canada still had no federal standards or binding regulations governing First Nations' drinking water.
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