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Chiefs of Ontario press release 

First Nations Water Declaration for Ontario

APRIL 16, 2009

Download Poster as a PDF

TORONTO— The Chiefs in Ontario are pleased to announce the adoption of a First Nations Water Declaration to show their commitment to water protection.

After a First Nation Water Policy Forum hosted by the Chiefs in Ontario last autumn, First Nations leadership along with Elders from various regions across Ontario voiced the need for a declaration on the importance of clean water for First Nation communities.

“Our challenge is to identify strategic initiatives that will increase water quality in First Nation communities across Ontario, while we deal with poverty, climate change and a population explosion facing First Nations,” says Ontario Regional Chief Angus Toulouse. “The goal of this declaration is to ensure that our people are educated about their rights to clean and safe drinking water. This is something we need to teach our children and this is a basic human right, one that we will not let the government ignore. Through the establishment of positive relations, we would like to acknowledge the commitment of the Ministry of Environment in supporting our efforts.”

Following the release of the First Nations Water Declaration, the Chiefs in Ontario will launch a community poster and public information campaign. The Chiefs in Ontario will share the First Nations Water Declaration with UN Water Advisor Maude Barlow for her work in developing a UN declaration on water.

The Chiefs in Ontario, comprising the 133 First Nations in Ontario, is a political forum and secretariat for collective decision-making, action and advocacy.
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For interviews with Regional Chief Toulouse, please contact:
Kathleen Pilcher
Chiefs in Ontario
807.626.9339
kathleen@coo.org.