When Tradition Meets the Environment

Here in Canada we are celebrating 150 years of nationhood. The native indigenous people are not too thrilled with the celebrations. For them it was 150 years of land expropriation, exploitation and cultural genocide in ‘residential schools’ that were set up for ‘Indian’ children who were taken from their parents to receive a Western education. The goal was to take the ‘Indian’ out of the child and to make them good Canadians. Unfortunately, various kinds of abuse often accompanied this education. These schools were most often administered by Christian churches, using methods that would have embarrassed Jesus himself.
The highlight of the 150th celebration events took place on July 1, 2017 on ‘Canada Day’. In Canada, trying to copy Washington DC in the USA, we have designated a ‘National Capital Region’. It consists of Ottawa in largely Anglophone Ontario and Gatineau in largely francophone Quebec. Both of these cities straddle the Ottawa river.

On the Quebec side of the river there is magnificent display of sculpted bushes showing various aspects of Canadian history. The presentations represent a blending of native and settler history. These displays are astounding as the following photos show.

Now let’s discuss the problem that occurs when tradition (or if you like, the remnants of cultural history) meets up with environmental concerns. Interesting things can happen.

Throughout the park, they were selling bottled water. Now for me, as a water engineer, the sale of water in throw-away plastic bottles in developed countries is an environmental disaster. Why is that?

- most plastic water bottles are not properly recycled and often end up in the ocean, thus posing a threat to wildlife there.

- Our tap water is highly regulated and safe, and is much cheaper than bottled water.

- Plastic water bottles contribute to a needless waste of fossil fuel reserves.

But why are there no water fountains in Parc Cartier? I was told that it is ‘unceded native land”. This means that the native people never gave this land to the settlers, and so in their view it is still rightfully theirs.  Therefore, the land cannot be permanently altered, without their permission. So we sell plastic bottled water instead of installing water fountains. This will eventually contaminate the earth that the native people say they love and revere so much!

p.s. Many cities and universities in Canada have discontinued the sale of bottled water on their premises. They have instead promoted the use of water fountains and reusable water containers. I am a founding member of Ottawa Water Study/Action Group (OWSAG). Over ten years we have been lobbying the city of Ottawa to cease selling water in plastic throw-away bottles. Ottawa city hall has installed more water fountains on their premises. Stopping the sale of bottled water on their premises is the next step. The struggle continues.