Eco-Justice
Before starting this course, I had never heard of the word “eco-justice.” I didn’t know what it meant, nor the importance behind it. The term was brought to my attention after reading the article, “Dozens of Canada’s First Nations lack drinking water: ‘Unacceptable in a country so rich,’” by The Guardian. In this article, I learned that many First Nations are living in reservations that lack clean/safe water, and that the Canadian government hasn’t been able to ensure safe drinking water for Indigenous peoples for generations. Why is this? Is it because the country can’t afford it? No—it can’t be. We’re one of the richest countries in the world. So why are First Nation individuals not granted the basic right of clean drinking water?
Eco-justice is the just and equitable treatment to everyone, regarding Earth’s resources. I now realize that there are minimal efforts from the government for this in context to First Nations lacking clean water in Canada. Shoal Lake 40 has had a water advisory in place for around 24 years. There was a water treatment plant plan in place, but it was “scrapped in 2011 after the federal government balked at the cost of the project” (The Guardian). The government isn’t prioritizing eco-justice, or what needs to be done to move towards an equitable and just society. Instead of providing clean drinking water for its citizens, the Canadian government had spent around $200 000 on a giant rubber duck in celebration of the country’s 150th anniversary in 2017 for example. Six years after they claimed they couldn’t afford to put a water treatment plan in place for Shoal Lake 40.
The lack of safe water for First Nations is a systemic barrier that the government isn’t doing anything about. Most white individuals today do not have to worry about having clean drinking water—the fact that First Nations do however, is racially unjust, and not in favour for eco-justice but rather supporting white privilege. By removing this systemic barrier, First Nation individuals can thrive, and not have worry about the basic necessity of water.
I now have an understanding of eco-justice, and will continue to expand my knowledge for the rest of my career as a future educator. It is important that I recognize and assess that these systemic barriers, are impacting the everyday lives of marginalized groups—in this case, the lack of clean water for First Nations. I have to advocate for these people, being I have the privilege to what they don’t for no just explanation. These barriers must be removed, along with many others, so that everyone can live in an equitable and just society where we can all function and live our lives to their fullest potentials.
Works Cited
The Guardian. (2021, April 30). Dozens of Canada’s First Nations lack drinking water: ‘unacceptable in a country so rich’. The Guardian. Retrieved October 7, 2021, from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/30/canada-first-nations-justin-trudeau- drinking-water.