Thursday, March 28, 2024

Low access to safe water for indigenous peoples highlighted by annual Sacred Water Ceremony

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Today, on International Human Rights Day, the Public Service Alliance of Canada and the British Columbia Government and Service Employees hosted their annual Sacred Water Ceremony.

The intention is to draw attention to the lack of safe drinking water in many indigenous communities across Canada.

The ceremony involved a walk from Douglas Street on Dallas Road to Victoria’s Inner Harbour, on the traditional lands of the Coast Salish Lekwungen – Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations.

According to a CHEK News report, buckets of water representing drinking water were carried by individuals attending the event. They would then assemble at several meeting points where various topical discussions were held.

PSAC Regional Executive Vice-President Todd Smith, BCGEU Executive Vice-President Sussanne Skidmore, and Green Party representative Elizabeth May were among the speakers present at the event.

According to the event advertisement, there were 121 First Nations with 172 drinking water advisories across Canada, as of July 31st, 2017.

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Brishti Basu
Former Senior Staff Writer and Content Manager at Victoria Buzz.

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