Carrie Davis reported on drinking water disruptions in Moose Factory, Ont., as part of the first Indigenous photojournalism fellowship for The Narwhal.
Photo: Carrie Davis / The Narwhal
In Moose Factory, water is complicatedBoil-water advisories in this remote First Nation are frequent, expensive and ongoing — but not “long-term,” if you ask the feds.
I have a very special story to share with you today, but first: I’m thrilled to say that 289 readers have stepped up this month to become the newest members of The Narwhal!
In 2022, Carrie Davis returned to their home community of Moose Factory for the first time since they were two years old — and went to find water.
“One of the first things I did was hike through the bushes to a secluded beach along the Moose River,” writes Carrie, who was one of more than 20,000 Indigenous children removed from their families as part of the Sixties Scoop.
“I was later told that the first thing Sixties Scoop adoptees taken from their homelands do is find water. In many Indigenous cultures, water is sacred because it is where life begins, so it makes sense that those who have been displaced — like me — would be drawn to the source.”
But water is complicated in Moose Factory, where frequent supply disruptions mean community members rely on expensive bottled water brought in by ice road, train or helicopter from far away.
A decade ago, Justin Trudeau made a promise: if elected Prime Minister, he would end boil-water advisories in Indigenous communities within five years. Ten years later, 33 communities are still dealing with long-term water advisories, according to federal data. Carrie was stunned that Moose Factory wasn’t on the list, because water disruptions are only considered long-term if they last more than a year.
For residents of the community, interruptions to water supply are compounded by the realities of living in a small Northern community, where relying on an outside supply of anything is costly, and a case of water might cost more than ten times as much as it does in the city. And despite federal funding commitments and promises to expedite improvements to the water system, a solution isn’t coming anytime soon.
As Carrie writes, “Indigenous communities like Attawapiskat and Moose Cree work hard to ensure the survival of their language, cultures and land. Still, when a community constantly deals with crises like contaminated water, it slows progress and prevents healing.”
Trudeau’s era of big reconciliation promises has come to a decisive end — and Carrie’s essay is a poignant reminder of how much further Canada has to go to heal from colonization. I hope you’ll take some time to read it here.
Some Canadians are already casting ballots in a critical federal election that will determine who will lead this country through a period of intense turmoil and uncertainty. Tariffs and trade wars dominate the headlines, but we at The Narwhal understand that, beneath it all, what’s really at stake is the future of Canada’s land, water and resources.
That’s why we’re leaning into thoughtful coverage of the upcoming election, focusing on issues related to the environment. In one interactive piece, we break down the parties’ stances on carbon pricing, critical minerals, pipelines, Indigenous Rights and more. We’ll keep updating that page as we learn more from party platforms and upcoming leaders’ debate — bookmark it to keep it handy!
Be sure to check out all of our election coverage over here. We hope it keeps you informed and engaged, and helps centre the natural world we treasure in the conversation.
The little newsroom that could
We’re thrilled to share that The Narwhal has picked up four award nominations from the Canadian Association of Journalists for our investigative, in-depth and visual journalism!
“I am so proud of all of the reporters and the hard work our whole team puts into telling these important stories,” executive editor Denise Balkissoon said. “This is such a wide range of nominations: breaking news, well-thought-out interactives, freedom of information digging and beautiful photography. It really shows what a powerhouse our little newsroom is.”
Nominations include reporting from B.C., the Prairies and Ontario (check out the stories here!). Winners will be announced at the end of May.
Poilievre promises approvals for ‘stuck’ oil, gas and mining projects. But are the feds the problem? By Carl Meyer
A number of the Conservative leader’s priority projects are nearing or have final approvals, while others face concerns about environmental and First Nations impacts.
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Carrie Davis reported on drinking water disruptions in Moose Factory, Ont., as part of the first Indigenous photojournalism fellowship for The Narwhal.
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