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

long-term boil water advisory

Indigenous group heading to Seattle for Intertribal Canoe Journey

Indigenous group heading to Seattle for Intertribal Canoe Journey

"We are exercising our inherent rights to raise awareness about the concerns affecting our waters by being visible and conducting ceremony throughout our territory," says Wolske, organizer of Shining Water Paddle. Shining Water Paddle, an initiative by members of the Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation, held its third annual ceremonial journey June 5 as they paddled around Lake Simcoe which has a shoreline perimeter of 303 km. Azhoonyang or Shining Waters is the Anishinabe name for Lake Simcoe, which is located in southern Ontario in the Territory of the Chippewa Tri Council, (Georgina Island, Rama and Beausoleil First Nations). Georgina Island is located in the southern shore of Lake Simcoe. The Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation have been living under a long-term boil water advisory for years. A 2017, $2.6-million investment from Indigenous Services Canada was implemented to upgrade the community's water treatment plant, however residents in the eastern and southern part of the community still do not have access to treated drinking water.

After years of hauling water, a Treaty 3 First Nation celebrates lifting of long-term boil water advisory

After years of hauling water, a Treaty 3 First Nation celebrates lifting of long-term boil water advisory

People in a First Nation in Treaty 3 in Ontario are celebrating a key step toward clean drinking water, as they lifted a long-term boil water advisory at the beginning of December. Advisories have been in effect on-and-off in Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation since the 1990s, said Chief Clayton Wetelainen, but the most recent advisory had been in effect for more than a year. "The people [living in] residential units are glad because they're tired of hauling in water, and the [advisory] has now been lifted," Wetelainen said.

Neskantaga – Boil Water Advisory Started February 1, 1995

Neskantaga – Boil Water Advisory Started February 1, 1995

Today is marking twenty-seven years since on February 1, 1995 a Boil Water Advisory was put in place in Neskantaga. This is the longest continuous boil water advisory in Canada. Think of this for a moment, this community in Canada has hundreds of people who have never done, in their community, what millions of Canadians take for granted: Filled a glass of water from the tap and drank it.

Sask. adds another long-term water advisory; feds won't set new deadline for lifting them

Sask. adds another long-term water advisory; feds won't set new deadline for lifting them

As a First Nation in Saskatchewan got its second long-term drinking water advisory, Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) said it won’t set a new timeline for lifting them. At a news conference in Ottawa on Wednesday, ISC Minister Marc Miller reaffirmed the government’s commitment to lifting the remaining 58 advisories in 38 communities. Eight remain across six First Nations in Saskatchewan. The oldest has been in place since 2008.

'We matter like all other Canadians': Tataskweyak Cree Nation calls on Ottawa to restore clean drinking water

'We matter like all other Canadians': Tataskweyak Cree Nation calls on Ottawa to restore clean drinking water

Tataskweyak Cree Nation (TCN) is one of more than 55 First Nation communities in Canada under a long-term boil water advisory and has been for the last four years. On Thursday, the First Nation’s Chief and NDP MP Niki Ashton called on Ottawa to restore clean drinking water. TCN has said the Canadian government has failed to deliver on the promise of clean drinking water for their community. “We can no longer ignore it anymore. We have to fight for our people," said TCN Chief Doreen Spence. "We matter like all other Canadians." Spence said they are left with no choice but to bring the issue – a basic human right – to the United Nations.

After 14 years, Middle River celebrates official end to boil water advisory

After 14 years, Middle River celebrates official end to boil water advisory

In front of a new water treatment plant, a group of Tl'azt'en First Nation members stand together alongside consultants, academics and an engineer from Indigenous Services Canada ready to cut the ribbon. It's a celebration to mark the return of safe drinking water to this remote northern B.C. community that has been living under a long-term boil water advisory for 14 years. People have flown and driven in from places like Prince George, B.C., Vancouver and the surrounding Tl'azt'en communities to mark this occasion.

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