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Hasan Syed starts his run from Vancouver in hope for better Drinking water in First Nations communities
4-12-2017
According to a Globe and Mail investigation in 2016, about 57,000 people living on 101 reserves across Canada obtain water from treatment plants and pipe networks the government deem to be “high risk,” and Another 95,000 are served by “medium risk” systems located on 167 reserves.
According to Amnesty International estimates, about 20,000 First Nations people living on reserves across Canada have no access to running water or sewage. In addition, at any one time 110 to 130 First Nations are under boil water advisories because their municipal water is not safe to drink.
Drinking water problems in First Nations communities is an ongoing issue for decades. An expert panel appointed by the federal government in 2006 concluded that the primarily reason for the problem is a result of federal underfunding.
In 2011, Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada National assessment report stated, There are a total of 807 water systems serving 560 First Nations.
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72% of the homes (81,026) are piped
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13.5% of the homes (15,451) are on truck delivery
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13% of the homes (14,479) are serviced by individual wells
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1.5% of the homes (1,880) are reported to have no water service.
Of the 807 water systems inspected:
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314 (39%) are categorized as high overall risk
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278 (34%) are categorized as medium overall risk
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215 (27%) are categorized as low overall risk.
Table: First Nations by Region
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Region
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Number of First Nations
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Atlantic
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33
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Quebec
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38
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Ontario
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122
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Manitoba
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63
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Saskatchewan
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70
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Alberta
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44
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British Columbia
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198
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Northwest Territories
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2
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Yukon
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17
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Total
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587
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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised to eliminate boil-water advisories on reserves within five years during his election campaign.
March 22 is World Water Day. The United Nations recognizes water as a human right. It designated an annual day to inspire awareness and action.
On March 31st, Hasan Syed A Lakehead University nursing grad held a first public awareness campaign at thunder Bay Mosque about the lack of access to clean water on many remote First Nations.
Hasan migrated to Canada from Pakistan with his parents at the age of Ten. As he was getting ready to graduate, someone mentioned to Syed that there are parts of Canada where conditions are worse than those of developing nations in terms of access to drinking Water.
He was shocked and decided to do something about it. He wants to raise awareness by running from Vancouver to Ottawa.
Hasan arrived Vancouver last week and started his run on Monday April, 10th,2017.
In an interview with Alameen Post on Friday April 7th, with Shahzad Mansoory, he stated his biggest challenge would be getting halal meal and looking for a support team for his journey. He currently has Br Mohsin volunteering to drive him till April 19th and after that he hopes someone will join Him.
Other ways to Support his cause would be to help him raise awareness by donating and running with him.
He can be contacted through his website https://www.a2cw.org.
Footnotes:
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