Thirsty for Justice campaign takes aim at First Nations water issues

The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) has launched a new campaign aimed at pressuring the federal government to address the water quality issues in First Nations communities across Canada.

The Thirsty for Justice Campaign officially launched on Tuesday, National Aboriginal Day. It includes a website and a video chronicling the water quality problems faced by Grassy Narrows First Nation in northwestern Ontario.

However, the goal of the campaign is to see the water issues being faced by more than 100 First Nations communities in Canada addressed, said Michael Desautels, PSAC's human rights program and Aboriginal rights officer.

"We had a convention resolution passed unanimously that called on the union to engage in a national campaign on safe drinking water for First Nations communities," Desautels said.

The union has not yet determined the total amount it will spend on the three-year campaign.

The campaign also includes sample letters and talking points for use when talking to MPs about the issue, a petition, posters and other initiatives aimed at raising awareness and getting the government's attention.

Partnership with Grassy Narrows

Desautels said PSAC partnered with Grassy Narrows because the First Nation — which has been without drinkable tap water for four decades due to mercury contamination — was inspiring in how the community's members have dealt with adversity.

"Grassy Narrows has a bit of a history of resilience, of pushing back," Desautels said. "Not just the mercury that's been deposited in the water, but attempts to have some of their traditional territories clear-cut, the opening of the Ring of Fire, and the resource extraction that they have been battling. And they've demonstrated such leadership, such resilience, that they inspired our team."

Desautels said the federal government has said Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada has said it will cost $8.2 billion to address water quality problems in First Nations communities. That money has not yet been budgeted, he said.

The union, Desautels said, has a responsibility to call on the government to address the issue and fulfil the campaign promises to end boil water advisories in First Nations communities.

"I've heard non-indigenous people say before that 'I don't know why I'm paying for the sins of my ancestors,' and the reality is ... every Canadian, continues to benefit every day from the resource extraction that takes place on First Nations communities and territories," he said. 

"We are all treaty people, and have the responsibility to live up to the commitment made in those treaties."

For more information about the campaign, visit thirstyforJustice.ca.