Canupawakpa Dakota Nation community just a few miles north Pipestone 10 kms (south of Virden 30 kms) has been on a boil water advisory for years, with no safe source for drinking water. As of Tuesday, Aug. 24 the community has a new water service.
Chief and Council reallocated funds to bring an Ultra-Pure purified reverse osmosis water filtration centre to their community to provide good drinking water. Health director Carol McKay-Whitecloud said, “It’s time that we have this. Community members won’t have to travel outside of the community for clean safe drinking water. It’s free for the community and available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.”
Overland flooding has been one concern for the water from wells on the reserve. The community also uses water cisterns as a source for washing.
Towns and cities in Manitoba have water treatment plants to kill bacteria and remove other toxins. Clean water comes out of our taps. While many choose to purchase a water service for drinking, municipal water is tested and is safe water.
Until now, Canupawakpa residents did not have safe water. They had to find ways to get their drinking water. Transportation can be a challenge as not everyone has a vehicle or the extra funds to get water from neighboring communities.
A small gathering from the community attended the grand opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday, that began with prayer and the acknowledgement that water is sacred.
“Our body is 60 per cent composed of water. Water has always been sacred to us. It has an energy, a spirit and healing properties.”
Mni Wiconi means water is life. “We cannot survive without it,” says McKay-Whitecloud. It’s considered a sacred substance.
The health director says, “It’s 2021 and every First Nation should have clean pure drinking water like the rest of Canada.” She adds that on the reserve, “Infrastructure for water and sewer is very underfunded.”
