Perspective: First Nation Teen To Address UN

A Canadian teen who is a water activist is to speak at the United Nations on International Water Day. This is a teen advocate who is from the First Nation community.

Autumn Peltier, 13, wants to become a lawyer. She is a Anishinaabe water advocate from Wikwemikong First Nation.

The General Assembly of the United Nations has declared 2018- as the International Decade for Action on water for sustainable Development.

This will give her a worldwide audience to make her case. The United Nations session will be held tomorrow, Thursday March 22, 2018.

There are about 100 drinking water advisories on reservations across Canada.

Pipeline construction is threatening water sources on first nation properties. They regard water as sacred.

We congratulate Autumn who is very articulate and sounds more matured than her 13 years.

In Jamaica our National Water Commission,  an extracting and water distribution company that is a government affiliated entity uses as its slogan “Water is Life.” Jamaica an Island state surrounded of course by water is referred to as “Land of Wood and Water.” Ironically, at times we have droughts and at other times too much rainfall causing flooding. Just too much water that saturates the water table leading to flooding, blocking of roadways and even washing away of homes in low lying areas.

Let us get your feedback, please.

Hopeton O’Connor-Dennie is Senior International Correspondent & Photojournalist for Vision Newspaper Canada.

Hopeton O’Connor-Dennie is Senior International Correspondent & Photojournalist for Vision Newspaper Canada