‘Do you have running water? I don’t and I live in Canada’

[DurkaDurka]

Satellite internet costs on a monthly basis.

A water well doesn't cost anything other than the initial investment of drilling the well, dropping a pump down ... sometimes 230 feet ... and hooking it up to the water pipes in the house. Yes, I think that many people living in rural areas just outside of city limits foot the bill for water and sewage and none of them have asked the federal gov't to cover the costs. If the Federal gov't is supposed to provide some rural people with water and sewage, then all of course the gov't should provide for all ... but that's a bit silly.

I never said it didn't cost money, but the band doesn't need to drill into the earth to pick up a signal do they?

You don't seem to get it, the Federal Government is obligated to supply clean drinking water to the First Nations, it's not a nice to do thing, it's an obligation.

From the horses mouth: Water

"The Government of Canada is committed to helping ensure First Nations have access to safe, clean, and reliable drinking water.
In 2006, the Government implemented a comprehensive strategy to ensure that water and wastewater systems in First Nation communities are effective and that First Nations have access to same quality of water as other Canadians. This long-term strategy is being delivered through:"

 

[petros]

Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality - Summary Table

 

[Ariadne]

An acreage isn't a fly in community is it?

You'd best look into that..

No, it's not ... but it is people that solved the problem without the federal government.

How in the world did people live on this land for so long without water? Clearly somebody wasn't thinking clearly if they decided a place without water was a good place to live.

I never said it didn't cost money, but the band doesn't need to drill into the earth to pick up a signal do they?

You don't seem to get it, the Federal Government is obligated to supply clean drinking water to the First Nations, it's not a nice to do thing, it's an obligation.

From the horses mouth: Water

"The Government of Canada is committed to helping ensure First Nations have access to safe, clean, and reliable drinking water.
In 2006, the Government implemented a comprehensive strategy to ensure that water and wastewater systems in First Nation communities are effective and that First Nations have access to same quality of water as other Canadians. This long-term strategy is being delivered through:"

Why is the Federal gov't required to provide some communities with water and not others? That's simply not fair. If some people get money to ensure they have running water, then every single Canadian, regardless of where they live, should have the same right ... but that isn't how it works.

A commitment to help could be in the form of education regarding drilling wells, couldn't it? Why is it assumed that "committed to helping" means bringing the water to the pipes?

 

[gerryh]

I see that 123 messages later that there are still idiots that refuse to accept that the Government of Canada is responsible for all of this through treaty rights. It is the Government of Canada's responsibility. Don't like it, get the frack out of Canada and back to where your ancestors came from.

 

[petros]

How in the world did people live on this land for so long without water? Clearly somebody wasn't thinking clearly if they decided a place without water was a good place to live.



Why is the Federal gov't required to provide some communities with water and not others? That's simply not fair. If some people get money to ensure they have running water, then every single Canadian, regardless of where they live, should have the same right ... but that isn't how it works.

First people used to drink surface water before it all become polluted, second there are treaties that require the Feds to ensure a supply of drinking water. Third how do you get a drill to a fly in community? Fly it?

 

[Cliffy]

No, it's not ... but it is people that solved the problem without the federal government.

How in the world did people live on this land for so long without water? Clearly somebody wasn't thinking clearly if they decided a place without water was a good place to live.

Do you really think that aboriginal people chose their reserves (where to live)? Do you really think that they held a council and decided to live on barren peices of land so that "whites" could farm all the best ag land and use all the best water sources?

Do you have any idea how much money many of these people get from the government as their share of treaty settlements? I believe that it is, after government bureaucrats have finished ripping them off, less than 5 thousand a year. Could you afford to drill a well on barren, useless land when your annual income is less than 5 grand a year?

 

[petros]

Do you have any idea how much money many of these people get from the government as their share of treaty settlements?

Yup. $5

 

[lone wolf]

Sometimes, they get lucky and that barren land gives up oil or diamonds or waterfront lots ... but most times not

 

[petros]

They don't have rights to what is under the ground. If they tried to stop a mine the mining company would just set up next door and dig from there right underneath.

 

[Cliffy]

Sometimes, they get lucky and that barren land gives up oil or diamonds or waterfront lots ... but most times not

Look at what has happened to Hobema, one of the richest reserves in Canada because of oil revenue.

 

[Ariadne]

First people used to drink surface water before it all become polluted, second there are treaties that require the Feds to ensure a supply of drinking water. Third how do you get a drill to a fly in community? Fly it?

Whoever was responsible for polluting the water should be responsible for cleaning it up. Did the gov't pollute the water?
Sure ... fly in the parts, build the equipment ... drill the wells. If TVs can be flown in, the water pumps can be flown in.

Do you really think that aboriginal people chose their reserves (where to live)? Do you really think that they held a council and decided to live on barren peices of land so that "whites" could farm all the best ag land and use all the best water sources?

Do you have any idea how much money many of these people get from the government as their share of treaty settlements? I believe that it is, after government bureaucrats have finished ripping them off, less than 5 thousand a year. Could you afford to drill a well on barren, useless land when your annual income is less than 5 grand a year?

Are you saying no one in the community works either? Wow ... what kind of place is this! No one works, no one can figure out how to help themselves, everyone wants the federal gov't to solve all the problems ... strange place if you ask me.

 

[lone wolf]

What use is a pump without a well? You DO know what a drill is don't you? Rather large for your average Otter....

 

[petros]

Whoever was responsible for polluting the water should be responsible for cleaning it up. Did the gov't pollute the water?
Sure ... fly in the parts, build the equipment ... drill the wells. If TVs can be flown in, the water pumps can be flown in.

Yup. Govt is responsible for environment.

I don't think you quite understand how big a rig a water well unit is and how much drill pipe and distribution pipe that requires but that type of unit won't drill into granite leaving only surface water to treat and drink.

It's $12 for 4L of milk in the north. If they could fly in cows they would.

 

[Ariadne]

What use is a pump without a well? You DO know what a drill is don't you? Rather large for your average Otter....

If you drill deep enough, there's water somewhere down there.

If there simply isn't water, then perhaps people should consider relocating. That's what people have done for thousands of years. Seriously ... if I'm living on a piece of dead land where I cannot in fact live safely, then it's time to move along ... not a good time to refuse to do anything and expect someone else to fix the problem.

 

[petros]

Water IN the CDN Shield? Nope. Not a drop.

Are you willing to pay to move a rez?

 

[lone wolf]

If you drill deep enough, there's water somewhere down there.

If there simply isn't water, then perhaps people should consider relocating. That's what people have done for thousands of years. Seriously ... if I'm living on a piece of dead land where I cannot in fact live safely, then it's time to move along ... not a good time to refuse to do anything and expect someone else to fix the problem.

That problem gets complicated by the fact the reservation is the place assigned to the Band and its members and to leave the rez, you lose your status.

 

[Ariadne]

Water IN the CDN Shield? Nope. Not a drop.

Are you willing to pay to move a rez?

Again with paying for one person, but not all Canadians ... no one pays for me to move when I move. I have to get a truck and a bunch of friends and hope for the best.

That problem gets complicated by the fact the reservation is the place assigned to the Band and its members and to leave the rez, you lose your status.

It doesn't sound like that status is doing anyone much good if there's no jobs, no water, no income.

 

[petros]

Did you sign an agreement with the Govt of Canada that says you are to be supplied with healthy living conditions?

Potable water is part of healthy living conditions.

 

[lone wolf]

Again with paying for one person, but not all Canadians ... no one pays for me to move when I move. I have to get a truck and a bunch of friends and hope for the best.



It doesn't sound like that status is doing anyone much good if there's no jobs, no water, no income.

Would you give up your citizenship?

 

[Ariadne]

Did you sign an agreement with the Govt of Canada that says you are to be supplied with healthy living conditions?

No ... but a commitment to help is quite different from handing everything on a silver platter. Help is education so communties can help themselves and become sustainable. If the community has no commitment to sustainability and expects the gov't to take responsibility for everything ... except cable TV and internet services ... then something seems out of kilter.

Would you give up your citizenship?

So long as I could have citizenship somewhere else, if I had to relocate so I could have a better quality of life for myself and children ... I would do what had to be done.