Nicole Hancock
Indigenous community hosts full moon ceremony ...

Kristen Villebrun and Wendy Bush hoped they wouldn't have to pray for Chedoke Creek, but four years after they first raised alarm about the water's condition, they were part of an Indigenous full moon ceremony to do just that. About 50 people showed up near Princess Point on the dark and frigid Monday evening for the monthly ceremony, which was particularly special as it focused on Chedoke Creek. The body of water that runs into Cootes Paradise had about 24 billion litres of sewage and storm water runoff leak into it due to a gate being left open.

Indigenous community hosts full moon ceremony to heal Chedoke Creek

Kluskus Lake

The Lhoosk’uz Dené village near Quesnel celebrates clean drinking water

The Lhoosk’uz Dené village near Quesnel celebrates clean drinking water

The Lhoosk’uz Dené village, located 200 kilometres west of Quesnel on Kluskus Lake, now has clean drinking water — for the first time in 20 years. The remote village of about 50 people has relied on bottled water to supply their household and everyday needs. “We’re so off-grid that many people don’t even know where we are. Even the nearest hospital is three hours away,” says Chief Liliane Squinas in a July 13 statement from the University of British Columbia (UBC). In 2008, the community received its first road access — a single logging road. “The community had no road access prior,” says Madjid Mohseni, a UBC professorin chemical and biological engineering.

Lhoosk’uz Dené village taps into clean water after a 20-year wait

Lhoosk’uz Dené village taps into clean water after a 20-year wait

Today, a remote Lhoosk’uz Dené community is holding a celebration to mark a joyful milestone. After decades of relying on bottled water, the village of about 50 people, located 200 kilometres west of Quesnel on Kluskus Lake, now has a steady supply of clean drinking water straight out of the tap, thanks to a new water treatment plant crafted to their unique needs. “We had to do things differently. And now, what was just a dream many years ago is reality,” says Chief Liliane Squinas. The robust treatment system relies primarily on ultraviolet light, paired with chlorine disinfection, to ensure clean drinking water that is free of harmful microbes. The setup is simple enough that it can be operated, maintained and even repaired without relying heavily on specialist skills or pricey components.

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