Although the federal government has committed to ending long-term water advisories in federally-funded water systems (a promise that is past due), it is important to recognize that this list does not include hundreds of communities without access to clean, safe water.
In Samson Cree Nation, which is located in Treaty 6 territory near Edmonton, there have been hundreds of boil water advisories for many years due to ageing infrastructure and elevated levels of heavy metals and contaminants. Many households receive their water from wells and cisterns, which are not part of public systems. The advisories governing wells and cisterns are not overseen by the federal government, meaning they are not represented in the long-term drinking water advisory list. Advisories for wells and cistern have not been properly monitored or well-funded for years.
This led the community to take the task of ensuring clean drinking water for their residents into their own hands. In 2013, they created the Nipiy (which means ‘water’ in Cree) committee, a program that promotes water sovereignty through improved Indigenous water governance and management.
The Nipiy committee takes a holistic approach to clean water, working in partnership with various governments and organisations to enhance infrastructure, like wastewater systems and water filtration, preventative maintenance, and most importantly, building capacity for Samson Cree Nation to manage and govern its own water resources.
“Many people have been living under boil water advisories for such a long time. We understand the frustration and the hopelessness that many people feel… So we’re trying to change the narrative, even within our own communities, to say that not only do we hear the concerns in the First Nation but there are some tangible solutions on the ground that we’re starting to address.
And our Nipiy committee has been able to access additional funding through these conversations to be able to start taking some of our homes off the boil water advisory, which has been very exciting.”
- Mario Swampy, Samson Cree Nation Councillor
For more information on Nipiy, please visit the Nipiy Facebook Page.
