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Slow Boil

INDEPTH: ABORIGINAL WATERS: A SLOW BOIL
Drinking and waste water on Canada's reserves: Ontario
CBC News Online | February 20, 2006

In Ontario, 71 per cent of reserve drinking water systems remain "at risk." Of the province's 294 First Nations water operators only 22 per cent are fully certified.

People at the Kitigan Zibi First Nation in the Maniwaki area are still drinking bottled water. That's despite several recommendations that were made five years ago.

In 2001, Indian and Northern Affairs commissioned a study to examine drinking water in reserves across the country.

In this region, the Kitigan Zibi reserve was flagged as a problem.

The tap water was given an eight on a scale of 10. Ten is the highest safety risk.

Josee Bellemare traveled out to the reserve to find out what's been done since the audit. < runs 5:08 >




Ron Desmoulins visited the First Nations' community of Kiashke Zaaging and also learned about the spiritual significance of water in native culture.







2004-05 FINAL results for Water Systems at Risk
REGION
total # of water systems
# of
high-risk
% of
high risk
# med-risk
%
med-risk
Alberta
78
14
18%
32
41%
Atlantic
18
14
78%
4
22%
BC
285
89
31%
150
53%
Manitoba
67
0
0%
31
46%
Ontario
135
63
47%
32
24%
Quebec
38
9
24%
13
34%
Sask.
99
6
6%
12
12%
Yukon
18
8
44%
9
50%
National
738
203
28%
283
38%
* Source: Indian and Northern Affairs Canada


The following files are of data from 2001 and 2002. There have been significant upgrades to many water treatment facilities since then. They will pop up in another window in Adobe PDF form

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ONTARIO
Algonquins of Pikawakanagan
Anishinaabeg of Naongashing (Big Island)
Anishnaabeg of Kapikotawangag 2
Aroland
Atawapiskat
Bearskin Lake
Big Grassy
Biinjitwabik Zaaging
Bimose Tribal Council 2
Bimose Tribal Council
Bkwejwanoong (Walpole Island)
Bkwejwanoong (Walpole Island) 3
Bkwejwanoong (Walpole Island) 2
Brunswick House
Cat Lake
Chapleau Cree
Chapleau Ojibway
Chippewa of Nawash
Chippewas of Aamjiwnaang
Chippewas of Beausoleil (Christian Island)
Chippewas of Georgina
Chippewas of Kettle and Stoney Point
Chippewas of Mnjikaning
Chippewas of Saugeen
Chippewas of the Themes
Constance Lake
Couchiching
Curve Lake
Dokis
Eagle Lake
Ebametoong
Flying Post
Fort Albany
Fort Severn
Fort William
Garden River
Ginoogaming
Grassy Narrows
Gull Bay
Henvey Inlet
Hornepayne (White Water Lake)
Independent First Nations Alliance
Independent First Nations Alliance 2
Iskatewizaagegan (Shoal Lake)
Kasabonika
Kashechewan
Keewaytinook
Keewaytinook 2
Keewaywin
Kingfisher Lake
Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwag
Koochiching
Lac des Milles Lac
Lac La Croix
Lac Seul
Lake Helen (Red Rock)
Long Lake no. 58
Magnetawan
Martin Falls
Matachewan
Matawa
Matawa 2
Mattagami
McDowell Lake
Michipicoten (Gros Cap)
M'chigeeng (West Bay)
Mishkeegogamang (Osnaburgh)
Mississauga
Mississaugas of Alderville
Mississaugas of Scugog
Mississaugas of the New Credit
Mohawks of Akwesasne
Mohawks of Akwesasne 2
Mohawks of Akwesasne 3
Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte
Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte 2
Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte 3
Moose Cree
Moravian of the Themes
Munsee Delaware
Mushkegowuk
Mushkegowuk 2
Muskrat Dam Nation
Naicatchewenin
Namay Goosisa Gagun
Naokamegwanning (Whitefish Bay)
Neskantaga (Landsdown House)
New Post
New Slate Falls
Nibinamik (Summer Beaver)
Nicickousemenecaning
Nipissing
North Caribou Lake
North Shore Tribal Council
North Shore Tribal Council 2
North Spirit Lake
Northwest Angle
Northwest Angle 2
Ochiichogue'babigo'ining (Dalles)
Ogemawahj Tribal Council
Ogemawahj Tribal Council 2
Ojibways of Batchewana
Ojibways of Hiawatha
Ojibways of Onegaming
Ojibways of Pic River
Ojibways of Sucker Creek
Oneida of the Themes
Pays Plat
Pic Mobert
Pikangikum
Poplar Hill
Poplar Point
Pottawatomi of Moose Deer Point
Pwi-di-goo-zing Ne-Yaa-Zhing Tribal Council (Fort Francis)
Rainy River
Sachigo Lake
Sagamok Anishnawbek
Sandpoint
Sandy Lake
Saugeen
Seine River
Serpent River
Shawanaga
Sheguiandah
Shibogama 2
Shibogama
Shoal Lake
Six Nations of the Grand River
Six Nations of the Grand River 2
Six Nations of the Grand River 3
Southern First Nations Secretariat
Stanjikoming
Tamagami (Bear Island)
Thessalon
Thunder Bay Services Centre (unafiliated)
Toronto Services Centre
Unaffiliated First Nations South
Unaffiliated First Nations South 2
United Chiefs and Councils of Manitoulin
United Chiefs and Councils of Manitoulin 2
Waabnoong Bemjiwang Association
Waabnoong Bemjiwang Association 2
Wabaseemoong
Wabausang
Wabigoon Lake
Wabun
Wabun 2
Wahgoshig
Wahnapitae
Wapekeka
Wasauksing
Washagamis
Watah Mohawk (Gibson)
Wauzhushk Onigum (Rat Portage)
Wawakapewin
Webequie
Weenusk
Whitefish Lake
Whitefish River
Wikwemikong
Windigo 2
Windigo
Wunnumin
Zhiibaahaasing

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RELATED: Kashechewan: Water crisis in Northern Ontario Selling Canada's water
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Chronic problems persist and water on two thirds of reserves continues to be "at risk" - Dave Seglins reports:
< runs 1:29>
QUICK FACTS:

Total population of Canada: 31,414,000

Total people of aboriginal origin: 1,319,890

Origin

North American Indian:
957,650*
Métis: 266,020*
Inuit: 51,390*
More than one aboriginal origin: 44,835

Reserves

People of aboriginal origin living on reserve: 285,625

People of aboriginal origin living off reserve: 1,034,260

People of non-aboriginal origin living on reserve: 36,230

(Source: 2001 Census, Statistics Canada)
*includes people of a single aboriginal origin and those of a mix of one aboriginal origin with non-aboriginal origins

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