Build relationships and collaborate with Indigenous communities to improve access to safe drinking water for Indigenous people in Canada.
Urban Water TMU, Toronto Metropolitan University
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Academic institution
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#SDGAction50647
Description
In advance of the Conference, Urban Water TMU of Toronto Metropolitan University (Toronto, Canada) has drafted a commitment to build relationships and work with Indigenous communities to improve access to safe drinking water for Indigenous people in Canada.
Urban Water TMU will continue to build relationships with indigenous community members to inform our research, education, activities, and day-to-day operations. One dedicated framework for relationship development is the Apathy to Empathy Steering Committee co-led with Elder Joanne Okimawininew Dallaire at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU). This Steering Committee comprises indigenous leaders and allies of indigenous communities.
Urban Water TMU commits to educating TMU students about Indigenous communities in Canada and their lack of access to safe drinking water. Urban Water TMU collaborated with The Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching and The Office for Social Innovation at TMU to host the Apathy to Empathy: First Nations Water Crisis learning module in September 2021. This learning module was integrated into the curricula of 4 undergraduate courses in the disciplines of civil engineering, chemistry, geography, and social sciences. Urban Water TMU will continue to develop educational initiatives and are planning another course delivery in September 2023.
Researchers in Urban Water TMU are building bridges with Indigenous communities and developing relationships in which traditional and western knowledge is shared, and researchers collaborate with communities to undertake research and solutions to community-identified needs to resolving safe drinking water in Indigenous communities.
This includes the work of researcher Dr. David Atkinson who uses spatial analytical tools to predict the impacts of a changing Arctic climate on Inuit source water quantity and quality. Dr. Atkinson is building relationships and learning traditional knowledge from the Inuit and First Nations communities and sharing knowledge and tools to deepen community-based research capacity for resiliency in addressing climate change in their water and landscape.
This includes the work of researcher Dr. Patricia Hania a social-ecological-legal scholar and expert in legal water governance regimes in Canada, who is elevating the voices of indigenous women through research and consultation in participatory water governance arrangements and other legal regimes.
This includes the work of Dr. Fatih Sekercioglu a public health expert who is elevating First Nations voices through relationship building and learning from knowledge holders to assist First Nations toward resiliency and safe drinking water.
This includes the work of Dr. Roxana Suehring an environmental analytical chemist who is co-creating research on water security rooted in the concerns and interest of communities, with members of the community as equal partners (co-principal investigators, research collaborators, and students).
In the spirit of truth and reconciliation, the commitment above aims to build bridges and open dialogue between marginalized Indigenous communities in Canada and western academic communities as well as next the generation through our students.
Marginalized indigenous communities have been displaced and their health, welfare, and economic security have been harmed by the long-term degradation and systemic harm from colonization in Canada.
Building bridges through our Urban Water TMU commitments is one small step forwad.
Our commitment targets SDG #6 (Safe drinking water and sanitation for all) as the main target goal.
• Pacific Coast Water Center, Simon Fraser University is a partner on all of these commitments.
Our Indigenous community members are also our partners. These partners include:
• the Hunters and Trappers Organizations (HTO’s) of Baker Lake, the Hamlet of Pond Inlet, and Taloyoak, Nunavut,
• the Pheasant Rump Nakota and Muskowekwan First Nations, Saskatchewan.
SDGS & Targets
Goal 6
Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
6.1
By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all
6.1.1
Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services
6.2
By 2030, achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations
6.2.1
Proportion of population using (a) safely managed sanitation services and (b) a hand-washing facility with soap and water
6.3
By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally
6.3.1
Proportion of domestic and industrial wastewater flows safely treated
6.3.2
Proportion of bodies of water with good ambient water quality
6.4
6.4.1
Change in water-use efficiency over time
6.4.2
Level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of available freshwater resources
6.5
By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate
6.5.1
Degree of integrated water resources management
6.5.2
Proportion of transboundary basin area with an operational arrangement for water cooperation
6.6
6.6.1
Change in the extent of water-related ecosystems over time
6.a
6.a.1
Amount of water- and sanitation-related official development assistance that is part of a government-coordinated spending plan
6.b
Support and strengthen the participation of local communities in improving water and sanitation management
6.b.1
Proportion of local administrative units with established and operational policies and procedures for participation of local communities in water and sanitation management
SDG 14 targets covered
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Deliverables & Timeline
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SDGs
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- North America
Other beneficiaries
• Our Indigenous community partners are the beneficiaries:
• the Hunters and Trappers Organizations (HTO’s) of Baker Lake, the Hamlet of Pond Inlet, and Taloyoak, Nunavut,
• the Pheasant Rump Nakota and Muskowekwan First Nations, Saskatchewan.
• As well, the Urban Water TMU community are the beneficiaries. This community includes the researchers involved in the research studies, their students, and the community involved and impacted by the education initiatives.
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Contact Information
Angela Malia, Director, Urban Water TMU, Toronto Metropolitan University