EMPTY COMMITMENTS? THE INDIGENOUS WATER CRISIS IN CANADA AND THE COMMITMENT TO ENDING ALL DRINKING WATER ADVISORIES ON FIRST NATION RESERVES

Abstract

In 2016 the Government of Canada (GoC) committed to ending all long-term drinking water advisories (DWAs) in First Nation communities by March 2021. By not fulfilling the 2016 commitment the GoC fails to fulfill its promise of providing access to fundamental needs for First Nations. This thesis aims to evaluate this commitment and provide possible recommendations to satisfy the goal of ending long-term DWAs. A qualitative approach is used for data collection via a policy review and semi-structured interviews. Indigenous Two-Eyed Seeing model and a decolonial feminist approach make up the analytical framework. Data analysis reveals that the degree of remoteness, capacity, budget, systemic racism, and miscommunications contribute to the persistence of DWAs and the failure of the commitment. Moving forward, a coordinated and holistic strategy is needed to improve the provision of safe drinking water to First Nations communities and eliminate all DWAs.