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

protect water

‘Historic’ agreement signed to protect more of B.C.’s lands and waters

‘Historic’ agreement signed to protect more of B.C.’s lands and waters

A historic deal signed Friday will protect 30 per cent of B.C.’s lands and waters by 2030. The Trilateral Framework Agreement was signed between the federal and British Columbia governments and the Indigenous-led First Nations Leadership Council. With this agreement, the federal government will be contributing $500 million and the B.C. government has dedicated more than $500 million, which includes a fund for old-growth forests and the opportunity for additional funds from the philanthropic community. The agreement includes a commitment to work together toward protecting 25 per cent by 2025, including on Indigenous protected areas.

Vancouver conference tackles water supply issues amid drought, population growth

Vancouver conference tackles water supply issues amid drought, population growth

Water is life, water is food, leave no one behind. That’s the theme of a conference taking place in Vancouver Monday that brings together experts and policymakers to tackle water scarcity, and to find ways to protect this vital resource as the planet heats up from global warming. UBC, SFU and the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organization are hosting the official North America World Food Day event at the Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue.

TIFF 2023 'Boil Alert': Urgency of North America's water crisis exposed though a journey of identity

TIFF 2023 'Boil Alert': Urgency of North America's water crisis exposed though a journey of identity

"You're going to see the injustice with the water, you're going to feel it without us having to sit down with David Suzuki and tell you how it happened, or why. ... You're going to figure that out by the human interaction between these people telling you their stories, and Layla learned about her own story."

New network for Indigenous land guardians welcomed in North

New network for Indigenous land guardians welcomed in North

A new federal initiative aimed at helping Indigenous communities protect their lands and water is a "win-win for everyone," according to some Northerners. "It benefits the programs and the communities that they serve, but that benefit and that value grows beyond those communities," said Dahti Tsetso, deputy director of the Indigenous Leadership Initiative, which supports Indigenous Guardian programs across Canada and in the North. Tsetso has also been director of lands and resources for the Dehcho First Nations in Fort Simpson, N.W.T.

Petition seeks federal help to protect 'purest water in the world'

Petition seeks federal help to protect 'purest water in the world'

A new petition is calling for federal intervention to protect the region’s “exceptional” groundwater. Spurred to action by companies using water for aggregate washing in Tiny Township and other Simcoe County locales, the petition was hand delivered to the House of Commons this week by Simcoe North MP Adam Chambers. “This water (Alliston Aquifer) is the gold standard for water worldwide, a national and global treasure,” noted the petition that had 23 signatures by mid-afternoon Thursday. The petition goes on to note that ancient deposits under the Simcoe Uplands in Tiny, Springwater, Oro-Medonte and Tay townships contain “pristine” groundwater. Tiny Township is the host to two aggregate wash water facilities: Teedon Pit owned by Dufferin Aggregates at 40 Darby Road, and Waverley Pit No. 2 owned by Sarjeant Company Ltd at 1379 Baseline Road South.

Guelph MPP introduces water protection bill

Guelph MPP introduces water protection bill

This morning, Ontario Green Leader and MPP for Guelph Mike Schreiner reintroduced pivotal legislation to protect the Paris Galt Moraine. “It is critical that we protect water,” Schreiner said. “Both now and for future generations. This bill provides model legislation to protect moraines across the province. “As the climate crisis worsens, Ontario needs to preserve its water supplies before the situation becomes more costly and dire. More delays will cost us with our wallets and with our health. “I’ve heard from the people of Guelph loud and clear: protecting water and the Paris Gault Moraine is a top priority for the region."

Opinion: Water crisis solutions must involve traditional water law

Opinion: Water crisis solutions must involve traditional water law

The question posted across the screen during both the French and English federal leader’s debates asked: “Water for all Indigenous Peoples?” The question sounds absurd because it is. Yes, we are still trying to ensure Indigenous Peoples have safe, reliable access to clean drinking water. The leaders took turns tossing blame, calling the Indigenous water crisis a national shame and promising to do better. Two election cycles ago, the governing party promised to eliminate all boil water advisories in Indigenous communities. The government lifted 108 boil water advisories, but today hundreds of Indigenous communities still do not have reliable access to safe drinking water.

P.E.I. government signals end of moratorium on high-capacity irrigation wells

P.E.I. government signals end of moratorium on high-capacity irrigation wells

Nineteen years after the PC government of Pat Binns brought in a moratorium on new high-capacity irrigation wells, the P.E.I. government of Dennis King signalled Thursday that moratorium will soon come to an end. P.E.I.'s much-debated new Water Act and accompanying water withdrawal regulations will come into effect next Wednesday, June 16, a written release issued Thursday by the province said.

Clean water for First Nations critical during the COVID-19 pandemic: Activists

Clean water for First Nations critical during the COVID-19 pandemic: Activists

Activists in northeastern Ontario fighting for safe, clean water in First Nations communities across Canada are getting tired of broken promises. After five years and millions in spending, the Liberal government announced in early December that it would not fulfill its commitment to end all long-term water advisories on reserves by March 2021. Although some progress has been made – 97 advisories have been lifted since November 2015 – there’s still a long way to go. There are 59 active long-term water advisories in 41 communities across the country, and activists maintain that clean water should be a priority for the federal government, especially during a global pandemic. “Water is a basic human right, and nobody should have to beg for it. This is wrong, and it’s come to the point where I think it comes down to racism,” said Autumn Peltier, a teenage water-rights activist from Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory on Manitoulin Island.

GUEST OPINION: P.E.I. water issue is not urban versus rural

GUEST OPINION: P.E.I. water issue is not urban versus rural

It is disturbing to hear the genuine public concern over high-capacity wells being deliberately misinterpreted as “urban versus rural” and as an attack against farmers. The Environmental Coalition of Prince Edward Island has been working for years to usher in a new era of water protection and conservation, and never once have we opposed farmers. Farmers are important to the economic and social health of the province.

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