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

Federal election

Federal election: If all parties agree that we need to end drinking water advisories in Indigenous communities, why haven’t we?

Federal election: If all parties agree that we need to end drinking water advisories in Indigenous communities, why haven’t we?

While Canada’s overall water quality is among the best globally — in 2016 a small town in British Columbia won gold for best municipal tap water in the world — First Nations have long struggled for access to safe drinking water. From mercury poisoning in Grassy Narrows, Attawapiskat’s decades-long battle for safe water, to Shoal Lake 40 and Nesktanga’s battles for clean water, the commitment to solve drinking water for Indigenous communities has long been a statement made by many sitting prime ministers and hopefuls.

Federal election Q&A: Corally Delwo, People's Party

Federal election Q&A: Corally Delwo, People's Party

We need to abolish the Liberal government’s carbon tax and leave it to provincial governments to adopt programs to reduce emissions if they want to. We need to abolish subsidies for green technology and let private players develop profitable and efficient alternatives. We need to invest in adaptation strategies if problems arise as a result of any natural climate change. We need to prioritize implementing practical solutions to make Canada’s air, water and soil cleaner, including bringing clean drinking water to remote First Nations communities.

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