In the face of a severe drought, many Albertans are concerned about water availability, including Rupert Meneen, Chief of Tallcree First Nation in northern Alberta. The community relies on a creek for its water source, but the lack of spring runoff this year has raised concerns about water supply. This situation is not unique to Tallcree First Nation, as many First Nations in Alberta struggle with limited access to safe drinking water due to various factors, including lack of funding, infrastructure, and source water protection.
The roots of this issue lie in colonialism, with treaties often neglecting to ensure reserves had access to clean water. Industrial and commercial activities can further degrade water quality. A 2021 class-action lawsuit resulted in an $8 billion settlement for First Nations affected by long-term water advisories.
While Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) maintains lists of water advisories on First Nations reserves, these only capture public water systems with at least five household connections. Many communities rely on smaller systems or private wells and cisterns, which are not included in these lists. According to the First Nations Technical Services Advisory Group (TSAG), there are over 5,600 cisterns and 3,700 wells on reserves in Alberta. TSAG’s circuit rider training program provides support to First Nations in operating their drinking water and wastewater systems, but not smaller, private systems.
A new federal bill, the First Nations Clean Water Act, aims to create minimum national drinking water and wastewater standards in First Nations. While some First Nations leaders praise the legislation, others criticize it for lacking specific funding and not adequately addressing source water protection. Many First Nations also worry about the liability of aging water plants potentially being downloaded to them.
Jurisdictional tensions further complicate the issue, as water outside of First Nations territory falls under provincial responsibility. The current Alberta government’s focus on disputes with the federal government rather than collaboration poses additional challenges. The province’s priority system for water allocation, which gives precedence to users with the oldest licences, raises concerns for First Nations with junior licences.
A visit by Pedro Arrojo-Agudo, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights to water and sanitation, highlighted Canada’s failure to provide First Nations with clean drinking water as a human rights violation. Arrojo-Agudo emphasized the need for First Nations to regain jurisdiction over their water sources and called for prioritizing the human right to safe drinking water for all.
As the drought continues, First Nations like Tallcree are exploring contingency plans, including the potential need for water trucks. The ongoing challenges faced by First Nations in accessing safe drinking water require urgent attention, including addressing funding gaps, improving infrastructure, protecting source water, and resolving jurisdictional tensions.
