Water Crisis
How long do the Indigenous people living on reserves have to boil their water to ensure it is safe to consume?
At least 1 minute.
What is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation?
This day, observed on September 30 in Canada, honours residential school survivors and remembers children who never returned home.
What is Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG)?
The ongoing crisis of disproportionately high rates of violence, disappearance, and homicide experienced by Indigenous women and girls in Canada.
This 1876 federal law gave the Canadian government control over Indigenous land, governance, and identity in Canada.
The Indian Act
What is the Highway of Tears and where is it located?
The Highway of Tears is a 724-kilometre stretch of Highway 16 in northern British Columbia where many individuals, mostly Indigenous women and girls, have gone missing or been murdered since the 1970s.
What does the water crisis issue stem from?
The lack of government support and financial aid.
What is Orange Shirt Day?
This other name is commonly used for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and comes from the story of a stolen orange shirt.
What is the Red Dress Project / Red Dress movement?
A symbolic art installation and awareness campaign displays empty red dresses in public spaces to represent Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit people who are missing or have been murdered.
What was the primary goal of the Indian Act?
The primary goal of the Indian Act was to force Indigenous peoples to adopt this dominant culture and way of life.
Why have many Indigenous women and girls been particularly vulnerable along Highway 16?
Many Indigenous women and girls have been vulnerable because of limited transportation in remote areas, systemic racism, and social inequality, which has forced some to hitchhike long distances.
What is the name of the water advisory that the Indigenous people on reserves are currently under?
The water boil advisory.
Who is Phylis Webstad?
A Secwépemc woman, whose childhood experience at a residential school inspired Orange Shirt Day.
What is celebrated every year on May 5th?
May 5 is Red Dress Day. It encourages people to wear red and hang red dresses to honour victims of MMIWG.
This term refers to how the Indian Act legally determined which individuals were considered Indigenous under Canadian law.
"Status Indian"
What is Project E-PANA and how many cases has the RCMP officially connected to it?
Project E-PANA is an RCMP investigation focused on missing and murdered Indigenous women along Highway 16. The RCMP has officially connected 18 cases to this investigation.
How long has the water boil advisory been an issue?
Over 25 years.
What are residential schools?
This type of government-supported school system attempted to assimilate Indigenous children by separating them from their families and culture.
What are specific colonial policies in Canada that contributed to systemic injustice towards Indigenous women and girls?
The Indian Act and/or Residential Schools.
The Indian Act contributed to the creation and operation of this system that removed Indigenous children from their families.
Residential schools.
Why do Indigenous advocacy groups believe the number of victims is higher than the official count?
Indigenous advocacy groups argue that the number is higher because many cases were not officially included in the investigation and remain unsolved, estimating the number to be over 40 victims.
How long will the water boil advisory be in effect for?
Until additional support by the government is implemented and greater awareness is brought to the issue.
This phrase is widely used on Orange Shirt Day to honour the children who attended residential schools and those who never returned.
"Every Child Matters"
What is the Indian Act in relation to MMIWG?
The Indian Act was a colonial policy, that helped create systemic inequalities that contributed to the MMIWG crisis through assimilation.
How does the Indian Act continue to have a lasting impact on Indigenous communities today?
Although amended over time, this law still exists today and continues to influence Indigenous identity, land rights, and governance.
How can students help address this issue?
Students can raise awareness, challenge stereotypes, support Indigenous-led initiatives, and advocate for safer and more equitable communities.