Canada's Waterless Communities: Neskantaga

Canada has the world's second-largest supply of fresh water, but 94 First Nations communities have limited or no access to it. Nearly a quarter of the First Nations communities administered by Health Canada are currently without clean water. The alerts issued by the federal government range from "boil water advisories" going back more than 20 years to crippling "Do Not Consume" orders. The federal government opts to deliver rations of bottled water to First Nations rather than build treatment plants that would provide jobs and consistent water.

VICE News travels to two First Nations communities with long-standing boil water advisories to meet with the chiefs, the political negotiators and the young residents who have spent their whole lives without accessible clean water. In this episode, VICE heads to the remote Neskantaga First Nation in Northern Ontario where after 20 years under a boil water advisory, they have slipped down the Federal government’s priority list for safe drinking water from four to nineteen, with no explanation, despite high-profile interventions on their behalf from the likes of David Suzuki and former premiers.

[jackschmit]

It's amazing how much money my government can spend on foreign aid when they are unwilling to even provide clean water everyone in our own country. I'm pissed off about not having paved roads too, but I'll let that slide for now.

[Beano]

It’s almost been 4 years since this was released and there has still been little change in aboriginal communities

[TheDopedup]

Why all the dislikes? Must be a lot of Nestle employees around

[realrzyg]

Spending more money importing bottle water for 20 years than to actually fix the water treatment plant is a clear indicator that its not a money issue.

[BackCountryWrenching]

I usually hate on most videos of Vice, But Clean water is a basic human right. The treatment plant was built in 1993 and was deemed unable to produce clean water so why wasn't something done or retrofitted.

[frostwerewoof]

Of course the minister of health declined to be interviewed. She wouldn't know what to tell Vice because her education isn't even within healthcare. How can you expect someone who took art and political science to actually understand health issues?

[Altricksss]

Canada may be a first world nation but for a lot of aboriginal communities, Canada is very third world. The root of the problem is lack of political will.

[swimmarfishy]

This is outrageous. If this was ANY town or city in the rest of Canada, there would be lawsuits, petitions, and widespread outrage. They're building wells in undeveloped countries and providing them with financial aid but refuse to provide clean water right here in Canada??? Why is the rest of Canada not up in arms about this? How are they not being sued?

[normabutts]

Okay, so they have a plant but the plant is not working? What caused the plant to fail and how come the cost of maintaining the plant wasn't part of the budget of the plant? Something doesn't make much sense. What is further really weird and odd is that the federal government gives this band $1 million dollars per year for bottled water. From the publicly available documents that describe the problems of the plant, they are mainly issues with the pumps. I am sure the cost of these pumps would be less than the cost of servicing this community with bottled water over these years. I wonder why wasn't these pumps fixed? Also from the same publicly available documents, another major issue is the lack of qualified people in the community to maintain and manage the treatment plant.


Okay, I found the answer: the community diverted the funds from the maintenance of the plant to pay down debt. this really paints a picture of really bad management.

[kays]

Love these people and their dogs so much. Some of the nicest people you will ever meet. I worked in their community building homes. The most gorgeous land I have ever seen in my life.

[Wize.]

people who disliked had moisty eyes and accidently clicked the wrong button

[kays_]

I lived here for three weeks for work. 30$ A CASE OF WATER! Constantly boiling water on a kettle. I was talking to a worker from Sudbury working for Ontario water. He says the water is fine to drink, and he even drinks it without boiling. The problem with their water treatment center is it isn't pumping enough water. It's quantity issue over quality I was told.

[ibrahimm]

I immigrated to Canada long time ago . I remember everyone use to boil water before drinking it was very common. Also we use to have tube well all around . Also we use to melt Fresh ice to get our water. It’s impossible provide the best facilities in isolated communities. Either they move to big cities or open the reserve as a municipality for immigrants to settle.

[musclecatholicism]

In the description for the Shoal Lake 40 video it is written that there are "169 First Nations communities have limited or no access to it" ...so if you're reading this Vice, you might want to fix/check your descriptions so your otherwise great reports don't become somewhat befuddling. Sincerely, a fan.

[Mla-lq]

Why did the treatment plant in 1995 stop working? They glossed over that in the video. Why couldn’t it be fixed?

[zedsdead]

First Nations? What about Newfounland and Labrador? What about my town? We've been on a boil water advisory for TWENTY years. What about all the other towns here!

[sabrinab]

There's a thing with activated charcoal that cleans the water, like a natural filter. You make it from fruits, wood, and other things. And you put it in a cloth to clean the water. If anyone knows about it and if 'im wrong, correct me :)

[joeschmoe]

What I would like to know is what the hell is in the water and why the hell did you not take the time to find out .

[matthewjw.miskimmin]

these people are living in Canada, yet our government wants to welcome in refugees and will help them more then we will help our own people, this bullshit needs to stop NOW, premier Wynn needs to go!

[matthewmann]

Throughout all or most of The Americas the First Nations also called Amerindians are put at the very bottom of the totem pole