Water for Everyone? by Melanie Beresford

Purpose and Problem

The purpose of this Ripple Effects Project is to engage children in a rich dialogue and

learning environment to help them gain a greater understanding of the impact of water in

their everyday lives (drinking, eating, cooking, cleaning, etc.) and the ways water has

shaped their identities (memories, leisure, sports, holidays, spiritually, etc.). The problem

and focus of this project are to create a deep understanding of the history of Winnipeg’s

water systems, how and where we get our water (the history and impact on Shoal Lake 40

First Nation) and the impact of colonization on the Indigenous peoples of Canada (focus is

on Manitoba). We will investigate WHO has easy and bountiful access to clean drinking

water in Manitoba, and WHO DOES NOT. We will inquire about the Indigenous populations

and communities in Manitoba that have had extensive water boil advisories in the past and

present. The significance of the project is to create an awareness of the importance of

access to clean and safe water, and to understand how water was and still is colonized in

Manitoba and Canada.

Project Summary

The project will involve a class of grade ¾ students from Shamrock School, located in

Southdale, Winnipeg. The students will begin by analyzing and inquiring about the water in

their everyday lives, in their communities, and the water that shapes their identities. We

will explore the Southdale community to visit, write about, and take photographs of the

water in our space and place (community centre, skating rink, sports fields, grocery stores,

human-made bodies of water, etc.). Once we have established strong appreciations and

senses of gratitude for the water in our lives, we will question where Winnipeg’s water

comes from through a series of interviews (the children will interview peers in the school,

teachers, family members at home, etc.) and we will see how well the people in our

community know about the history of Manitoba’s water system. Next, we will learn about

the history of Manitoba’s water system and how this impacted Shoal Lake 40 First Nation

and left them without clean and safe drinking water for many years. We will also investigate

the Indigenous communities in Canada (focus on Manitoba) that have either spent long

periods of time on boil water advisories or are currently on a boil water advisory. We will

examine what life is like for these people and we will inquire about what life would be like

with no clean and safe drinking water flowing from our taps in our own lives. Lastly, we will

connect with other classrooms in Winnipeg to create “water buddies” to connect, shareour learnings and meet at the Forks for a field trip. We would also like to connect with a

community who has lived with extended boil water advisories.

Significance

The project will require students to inquiry about the circumstances of Manitoba’s

Indigenous populations, and the stark contrast of the settler populations. We will deeply

examine Winnipeg’s water system and the colonization of water and gain a deep

appreciation for the water in our lives.