Nursing, Indigenous Health, Water, and Climate Change

Authors

  • Darlene Sanderson Cree
  • Noeman Mirza Thompson Rivers University
  • Mona Polacca Indigenous World Forum on Water and Peace
  • Andrea Kennedy Mount Royal University
  • R. Lisa Bourque-Bearskin Thompson Rivers University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25071/2291-5796.55

Keywords:

Indigenous, Traditional Knowledge, Water, Climate change, Health, Nursing

Abstract

Nurses have a duty to uphold the right to health. Clean water is vital for health as an inclusive right for all people, yet access is threatened by climate change. Complex impacts of colonization on climate change has resulted in two key problems: lack of clean water access by Indigenous Peoples and marginalization of Indigenous traditional teachings that support water protection. Indigenous teachings of living in harmony with Mother Earth are important contributions to global water policy and health solutions.  Indigenous traditional laws on water protection may be understood through Indigenous water declarations. Nurses have an important opportunity to respect traditional teachings noting interconnections of health, water, and climate change to advance health. Water is life.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Darlene Sanderson, Cree

Darlene Sanderson, PhD, RN is of Cree ancestry from Manitoba (Churchill, Norway House) and a mother of two adult children. She is a registered nurse and Assistant Professor with the School of Nursing at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, BC. She has worked as a cardiac nurse for 17 years and has since worked with Indigenous peoples locally and globally on water, climate change, and health issues. Her doctoral work focused on Indigenous elderly teachings of the spiritual dimensions of water and the connections between health, education, law and the environment. She has developed curriculum (e.g., graduate and undergraduate nursing and arts courses, as well as experiential learning opportunities co-designed by local Indigenous peoples) and made contributions to the Indigenization of the school of nursing's undergraduate and graduate curricula. She has engaged with Indigenous communities to conduct and deliver Indigenous -led research on water, health and climate change. Her local and global involvements have reflected her passion for the implementation of Indigenous values and practices, relationship building, and collaboration for improving the health and well-being of Indigenous peoples.

Noeman Mirza, Thompson Rivers University

Noeman A. Mirza, PhD, RN, is an early-career researcher and an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Nursing, University of Windsor. Dr. Mirza’s research focuses on understanding and managing complex situations. He has worked with several Indigenous communities as part of his ongoing scholarship on aging, education, and climate change.

Mona Polacca, Indigenous World Forum on Water and Peace

Mona Polacca, MSW is a member of the Colorado River Indian Tribes of Parker, Arizona, USA and a Hopi/Havasupai/Tewa Elder.  Mona’s tribal lineage is of the Havasupai, Hopi, and Tewa tribes.  She is a founding member of the Indigenous World Forum on Water & Peace, (IWFWP) a global collective group of Indigenous representatives who have initiated a call for over ten (10) years, to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.   In 2018, she served as a Co- Focal Point for the Indigenous Peoples Program at World Water Forum (WWF), garnering financial sponsorship for the Indigenous Peoples’ participation in the forum, and coordinating delegate representation and giving voice for Indigenous Peoples on at least ten panels in the forum. She currently serves on several United Nations committees on Indigenous peoples’ issues, is a featured author, speaker, and educator on Indigenous peoples’ human rights, aging, mental health, addiction and violence. Mona is the President/CEO and faculty of the Turtle Island Project, a non-profit program that promotes a vision of wellness by providing trans-cultural training to individuals, families and healthcare professionals.

Andrea Kennedy, Mount Royal University

Andrea Kennedy is a registered nurse, educator and researcher dedicated to Indigenous health and nursing education.  She is honoured to learn with Elders. Andrea holds a deep pride for her diverse relations, including Italian, Celtic and Métis ancestry and traditionally adopted Tsuut'ina and hanai Hawaiian families. As an associate professor with the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Mount Royal University, she teaches undergraduate nursing with a decolonizing approach. Andrea is conducting research on advancing reconciliation in higher education and primary health care through social innovation, mentorship and relational learning with Indigenous communities.  

R. Lisa Bourque-Bearskin, Thompson Rivers University

R. Lisa Bourque Bearskin PhD, member of the Beaver Lake Cree Nation (AB), is an Early Career Indigenous Nurse Researcher and Associate Professor at Thompson River University, School of Nursing. Dr. Bourque Bearskin was recently appointed with the CIHR Indigenous Nursing Research Chair. She currently holds grants funded by the CIHR Institute for Indigenous Peoples, the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research, and Thompson Rivers University where she initiates community-led research by Indigenous communities. She leads multidisciplinary teams to facilitate the design, delivery and implementation of Indigenous Health Nursing in research, education, policy and practice.  

References

The 6th Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Peoples Issues. (2007). Water is sacred, water is life, water is fundamental: planning a world Indigenous forum on water and peace. Requesting support and participation of the UNPFII. http://cendoc.docip.org/collect/cendocdo/index/assoc/HASH0ea5/02c6ebb0.dir/PF07darlene270.pdf

The 10th Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Peoples Issues. (2011). Indigenous world forum on water and peace: Joint intervention. http://cendoc.docip.org/collect/cendocdo/index/assoc/HASH5538/77eab4c2.dir/PFIIdarlene274.pdf#search=%22sanderson%22

Allan, B. & Smylie, J. (2015). First Peoples, second class treatment: The role of racism in the health and well-being of Indigenous peoples in Canada. Toronto, ON: Wellesley Institute.

Anderson, K., Clow, B., & Haworth-Brockman, M. (2013). Carriers of water: Aboriginal women’s experiences, relationships and reflections. Journal of Cleaner Production, 60(1), 11-17. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2011.10.023

Assembly of First Nations. (2018). Dismantling the doctrine of discovery. https://www.afn.ca/wpcontent/uploads/2018/02/18-01-22-Dismantling-the-Doctrine-of-Discovery-EN.pdf

Assembly of First Nations. (n.d.). Honoring water. https://www.afn.ca/honoringwater/

Astle, B., Bourque Bearskin, R.L., Dordunno, D., Egert, A., Houweling, R., Moen, N., Plamondon, K., Radu, R., Sanderson, D., & Smith, C. (2020). Nurses for planetary health: a call to action. Nurses and Nurse Practitioners of British Columbia. https://www.nnpbc.com/nurses-forplanetary-health-a-call-toaction/#_ftn1

Bailie, R. S., Carson, B. E., & McDonald, E. L. (2007). Water supply and sanitation in remote Indigenous communities - priorities for health development. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 28(5).

Barlow, M. (2007). Our water commons: toward a new freshwater narrative. Ottawa, ON: The Council of Canadians. https://www.deslibris.ca/ID/216046

Bradford, L. E., Okpalauwaekwe, U., Waldner, C. L., & Bharadwaj, L. A. (2016). Drinking water quality in Indigenous communities in Canada and health outcomes: a scoping review. International Journal of Circumpolar Health, 75, 1-16. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3402/ijch.v75.32336

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. (Sept 16, 2010). Oilsands poisoning fish, say scientists, fishermen. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/oilsands-poisoning-fish-sayscientists-fishermen-1.939507

Canadian Nurses Association. (2017). Climate change and health. Ottawa, ON: Author. https://www.cnaaiic.ca/-/media/cna/pagecontent/pdf-en/climate-change-and-health-position-statement.pdf

Canadian Nurses Association. (2009). Social justice in practice. Ottawa, ON: Author. https://www.cnaaiic.ca/~/media/cna/pagecontent/pdfen/ethics_in_practice_april_2009_e.pdf?la=en

Canadian Public Health Association. (2019). Climate change and human health. https://cpha.ca/climate-change-andhuman-health

Carling, A. & Manjani, I. (2020). Systemic inequities increase COVID-19 risk for Indigenous people in Canada: Challenges include barriers to healthcare, adequate housing and resources. Human Rights Watch. https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/06/09/systemic-inequities-increasecovid-19-risk-indigenous-peoplecanada

Centre of Indigenous Environmental Resources. (September 15, 2010). First Nations water security and climate change: Workshop report. https://www.psf.ca/sites/default/files/FN_H2O_CC_Wkshp_RptFINAL.pdf

Costello, A., Abbas, M., Allen, A., Ball, S., Bell, S., Bellamy, R., Friel, S., Groce, N., Johnson, A., Kett, M., Lee, M., Levy, C., Maslin, M., McCoy, D., McGuire, B., Montgomery, H., Napier, D., Pagel, C., Patel, J., ...Patterson, C. (2009). Managing the health effects of climate change. The Lancet,373(9676), 1693-1733. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(09)60935-1

Declaration of the Peoples World Water Movement. (2004). Declaration of the Peoples World Water`Movement. New Delhi, India January 2004. https://contrattoacqua.it/public/upload/1/2/tab_elms_docs/1327829213forum-4_declaration-new-dehli.pdf

Deloria, V. (1999). Spirit and reason. B. Deloria, K. Foehner & S. Scinta (Eds.). Golden, CO: Fulcrum Publishing.

Ermine, W. (2006). The ethical space of engagement. Indigenous Law Journal, 6(1). 194-203.

First Nations Health Authority. (2020). Cultural humility. https://www.fnha.ca/wellness/cultural-humility

Freshwater Future. (2020). Indigenous declaration on water. https://freshwaterfuture.org/communityresources/publications/freshwatervoices-newsletter-archive/volume-10-number-4-%E2%80%A2-fall-2002/indigenous-declaration-onwater/

Government of British Columbia. (2020). A new path forward. https://declaration.gov.bc.ca

Government of Canada. (2020a). Ending long-term drinking water advisories. https://www.sacisc.gc.ca/eng/1506514143353/1533317130660

Government of Canada. (2020b). Long-term advisories affecting water systems not financially supported by the government of Canada south of 60. https://www.sacisc.gc.ca/eng/1516134315897/1533663683531

Groenfeldt, D. (2014). Water ethics: A values approach to solving the water crisis. Water Resources Management: An International Journal, 28(6), 1481-1483.

Ignace, R., & Ignace, M. (2017). Secwépemc people, land and laws. Montreal, QC & Kingston, ON: McGill-Queen's University Press.

Indigenous Environmental Network. (2020). Indigenous Environmental Network. https://www.ienearth.org/

Indigenous Peoples of the Americas. (n.d.). Message from Indigenous people from America, from La Cocha, Guamuès, Pasto, Nariño. https://sierranevada.wordpress.com/2009/09/03/mensaje-de-los-pueblosoriginarios-de-america-desde-lacocha-guamues-pasto-narino/

Indigenous Health Writing Group of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. (2019). Indigenous health primer. Ottawa, ON: Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. http://www.royalcollege.ca/rcsite/health-policy/initiatives/indigenoushealth-e

Institute of Medicine. (2011). The future of nursing: leading change, advancing health. Washington, CD: The National Academies Press.

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. (2019). AR6 climate change 2021: impacts, adaptation and vulnerability, the working group II contribution to the sixth assessment report. https://www.ipcc.ch/report/sixthassessment-report-working-group-ii/

International Council of Nurses. (2012). The ICN code of ethics for nurses. Geneva, Switzerland: Author. https://www.icn.ch/sites/default/files/inlinefiles/2012_ICN_Codeofethicsfornurses_%20eng.pdf

International Council of Nurses. (2018). Nurses, climate change and health. Geneva, Switzerland: Author. https://www.icn.ch/sites/default/files/inlinefiles/PS_E_Nurses_climate%20change_health_0.pdf

Jiménez, A., Cortobius, M., & Kjellén, M. (2014). Water, sanitation and hygiene and Indigenous peoples: a review of the literature, Water International, 39(3), 277-293. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02508060.2014.903453

Kinoshameg, R. M., Rukholm, E., & Villeneuve, M. (2009). Cultural competence and cultural safety in nursing education: A framework for First Nations, Inuit and Métis Nursing. Aboriginal Nurses Association of Canada. https://www.cnaaiic.ca/~/media/cna/pagecontent/pdfen/first_nations_framework_e.pdf

Kogi People. (1992). From the heart of the world: The elder brothers' warning - Kogi message to humanity.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRgTtrQOiR0

Lameman, C. (June 2020). Reconcile this: health, wellness and safety during a world pandemic, or concessions for extreme resource extraction. https://raventrust.com/2020/05/25/reconcile-this-health-wellness-andsafety-during-a-world-pandemic-orconcessions-for-extreme-resourceextraction/

Lavalley, G. (2006). Aboriginal traditional knowledge and source water protection: First Nations’ views on taking care of water. Toronto, Canada: Chiefs of Ontario.

Mandamin. J. (n.d.). Nokomis Josephine Mandamin - Anishinaabe waterwalker, Elder, teacher & leader. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIkFBxqGd4U

Manuel, A. (2017). From dispossession to dependency. In P. MacFarlane, and N. Schabus, (Eds). Whose land is it anyway? (pp 18-21). Vancouver, BC: Federation of Postsecondary Educators of BC. http://www.fpse.ca/sites/default/files/news_files/Decolonization%20Handbook.pdf

Manuel, A., & Derrickson, R. (2017). The reconciliation manifesto recovering the land and rebuilding the economy. Toronto, ON: Lorimer and Company Ltd.

Marshall, M., Marshall, A. &; Bartlett, C. (2015). Two-eyed seeing in medicine. In M. Greenwood, S. de Leeuw and C. Reading (Eds.) Determinants of Indigenous peoples’ health in Canada. Beyond the social (pp. 16-24). Toronto, ON: Canadian Scholars’ Press.

Mataatua Declaration on Cultural and Intellectual Property Rights of Indigenous Peoples. (June 1993). First International Conference on the cultural & intellectual property rights of Indigenous peoples. Whakatane: 12-18. Aotearoa, New Zealand. http://www.ankn.uaf.edu/IKS/mataatua.html

Martin, W. & Vold, L. (2019). Climate change and health. It is time for nurses to act. A discussion paper. Ottawa, ON: Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions. https://nursesunions.ca/wpcontent/uploads/2019/05/CFNU_climatechange-web.pdf

May, E. (May 10, 2012). Bill C-38: The environmental destruction act. The Tyee. https://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2012/05/10/Bill-C38/

McGregor D., Arsenault, R., Wilson, N. (November 15, 2018). Community based research methods in water planning and governance with First Nations. Canadian Water Network. http://cwn-rce.ca/wpcontent/uploads/11-15-2018-CWNSYP-Engaging-Community-Based-Research-Methods-in-Water-Planning-and-Governance-with-First-Nations.pdf

Miller, R.J. (2015). The doctrine of discovery, manifest destiny, and American Indians. Why you can't teach United States history without American Indians. [Unpublished manuscript]. Tempe, AZ: Arizona State University. https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2689279

New Zealand Parliament. (March 28, 2017). Innovative bill protects Whanganui River with legal personhood. https://www.parliament.nz/en/getinvolved/features/innovative-billprotects-whanganui-river-withlegal-personhood/

Norman, E. S. (2018). Toward a global water ethic: learning from Indigenous communities. Ethics & International Affairs, 32(2), 237-247. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0892679418000333

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and World Health Organization (2008). The right to health. Fact sheet no. 31. Geneva: Author. https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Publications/Factsheet31.pdf

Reading, J., Peron, D., Marsden, N., Edgar, R., Saravana-Bowen, B., & Baba, L. (Eds.) (2011). Crisis on tap: Seeking solutions for safe water for Indigenous peoples. https://www.uvic.ca/research/centres/circle/assets/docs/Publications/crisis-on-tap-cahr.pdf

Reading, C.L., & Wien, F. (2009). Health inequalities and the social determinants of Aboriginal peoples' health. Prince George, BC: National Collaborating Centre for Aboriginal Health.

Robbins, J. A., & Dewar, J. (2011). Traditional Indigenous approaches to healing and the modern welfare of traditional knowledge, spirituality and lands: A critical reflection on practices and policies taken from the Canadian Indigenous example. The International Indigenous Policy Journal, 2(4), 1- 20. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18584/iipj.2011.2.4.2

Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons. (2012). Disparities in health outcomes and inequities in the quality of health care services for Aboriginal peoples. http://www.royalcollege.ca/rcsite/documents/health-policy/indigenoushealth-discussion-paper-e.pdf

Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples. (1996). People to people, nation to nation: Highlights from the report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples. Ottawa, ON: Minister of Supply and Services.

Sanderson, C. (2008). Nipiy wasekimew/clear water: The meaning of water from the words of the Elders: The interconnections of health, education, law, and the environment. [Doctoral dissertation]. Burnaby, BC: Simon Fraser University.

Sandford, R., & Phare, M. (2011). Ethical water: Learning to value what matters most. Victoria, BC: Rocky Mountain Books.

Sarkar, A., Hanrahan, M., & Hudson, A. (2015). Water insecurity in Canadian Indigenous communities: some inconvenient truths. Rural and Remote Health, 15(4), 1-13. www.rrh.org.au/journal/article/3354

Smith, H. A., & Sharp, K. (2012). Indigenous climate knowledges. WIREs Climate Change, 3(5), 467-476. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/wcc.185

Smith, L. (1999). Decolonizing methodologies: Research and Indigenous peoples. Dunedin, NZ: University of Otago Press.

Stefanelli, R.D., Castleden, H., Harper, S.L., Martin, D., Cunsolo, A., & Hart, C. (2017). Experiences with integrative Indigenous and Western knowledge in water research and management: a systematic realist review of literature from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. Environmental Reviews, 25(3), 323-333. https://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/10.1139/er-2016-0114 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1139/er-2016-0114

Stephens, C., Porter, J., Nettleton, C., & Willis, R. (2006). Disappearing, displaced, and undervalued: a call to action for Indigenous health worldwide. Lancet, 367, 2019-2028. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(06)68892-2

The Guardian. (2017). New Zealand river granted same rights as human beings. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/16/new-zealand-rivergranted-same-legal-rights-ashuman-being

Tlatokan Atlahuak Declaration. (2006). Declaration of the Indigenous Peoples Parallel Forum of the 4th World Water Forum. http://media.knet.ca/node/1952

Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc (Summer 2019). Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc Summer Lexéy'em. https://tkemlups.ca/files/2019/09/2019-Summer-Lexeyem-web-1.pdf

Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. (2015). Honouring the truth, reconciling for the future. Summary of the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. Winnipeg, MB: Author. http://www.trc.ca/assets/pdf/Honouring_the_Truth_Reconciling_for_the_Future_July_23_2015.pdf

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. (2006). Indigenous Peoples Kyoto Water Declaration. Third World Water Forum, Kyoto, Japan. March 2003. Water and Indigenous Peoples. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000145353

United Nations Children’s Fund. (2019). Water under fire. New York, NY: United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and World Health Organization. https://www.unicef.org/reports/water-under-fire-2019

United Nations. (2020). Sustainable development goals. New York, NY: Author. https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-developmentgoals/

United Nations. (2015). Paris Agreement. New York, NY: Author. https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/english_paris_agreement.pdf

United Nations. (2010). Human rights to water and sanitation. New York, NY: Author. https://www.unwater.org/waterfacts/human-rights/

United Nations. (2007). United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. New York, NY: Author. https://www.un.org/development/desa/indigenouspeoples/declaration-onthe-rights-of-indigenous-peoples.html

University of Victoria. (2020). Indigenous law research unit (ILRU). https://www.uvic.ca/law/about/indigenous/indigenouslawresearchunit/

Walkem, A. (2007). The land is dry: Indigenous Peoples, water, and environmental justice. In Karen Bakker (Ed.), Eau Canada: The future of Canada’s water, (303 – 319). Vancouver, BC: UBC Press.

West Coast Environmental Law. (2020). Indigenous law. https://www.wcel.org/program/indigenous-law

Wikler, M., & Lameman, C. (June 5, 2020). Beaver Lake Cree stands strong as Canada and Alberta attempt to derail tarsands legal challenge. Briarpatch Magazine. https://briarpatchmagazine.com/articles/view/beaver-lake-cree-stand-strongas-canada-and-alberta-attempt-toderail-tarsands-legal-challenge

World Health Organization (2017). 2.1 billion people lack safe drinking water at home, more than twice as many lack safe sanitation. Geneva: Author https://www.who.int/newsroom/detail/12-07-2017-2-1-billionpeople-lack-safe-drinking-water-athome-more-than-twice-as-many-lacksafe-sanitation

World Peoples’ Conference on Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth. (2011). Building the peoples’ movement for mother earth: Rights of mother earth. https://pwccc.wordpress.com/programa/

World Water Council. (2020). 9th World Water Forum, Dakar 2021, water security for peace and development. https://www.worldwatercouncil.org/en/dakar-2021

Downloads

Published

2020-06-15

How to Cite

Sanderson, D., Mirza, N., Polacca, M., Kennedy, A., & Bourque-Bearskin, R. L. (2020). Nursing, Indigenous Health, Water, and Climate Change. Witness: The Canadian Journal of Critical Nursing Discourse, 2(1), 66–83. https://doi.org/10.25071/2291-5796.55

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 1 (2020): Special Issue: Nīpawīstimatowin -“bearing witness for one another”

Section

Articles

License

Witness publishes under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International license (CC BY-NC 4.0). Read the license terms at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/. The author(s) retain copyright to their works.

Crossref
Scopus
Google Scholar
Europe PMC