‘That water out there is no damn good for anybody’: Experiences with declining water quality in a First Nation community

In many Indigenous communities, the wellbeing of waterways correlates to the health of the population that it supports. However, current laws and water governance systems often fail to protect water sources and jeopardizes health and wellbeing, particularly in Indigenous communities. This study, curated by an Anishinaabe First Nations community located in Ontario on the Lake of the Woods (LOTW), was designed to detail the varying impacts of adverse water quality on people in the community. A community-based participatory research approach included interviews with Elders and key informants to understand lived experiences of adverse water quality, sources of pollution, and individual and community impacts. Key findings revealed changes in water quality within and between years, with water quality degrading over time. Further, changes in water quality were associated with changes in the community’s health, food sources, and activities. Finally, a paternalistic colonial history between Indigenous people and the Government of Canada continues to resonate and cause strained jurisdictional relations between the two groups. Opportunities and future water stewardship strategies require the active participation and inclusion of Indigenous people in policymaking, programming, and water management. As proposed by the LOTW community, this includes improving water quality monitoring, upgrading septic systems in the community, reintroducing wild rice to the shorelines, and creating water activities programming for Indigenous youth.