Salaam / Mni Wiconi* 

*Logo Design by Khaiam Dar

Supporters: Chief Arvol Looking Horse, Federation of Muslim Women 

Indigenous and Muslim Women for Water Project

A collaboration of First Nation and Muslim women who have joined together to raise awareness and funds that will address the water crisis of the Lubicon Lake Nation located in Alberta, Canada.  All funds raised will support:  

• Immediate food and access to clean water.
• Research and the implementation of a sustainable clean water storage facility on the Lubicon Lake Nation Territory.

Lubicon Lake Nation 

The Lubicon Lake Nation are a Cree First Nations and reside in Northern Alberta but are not considered treaty people in accordance with the Indian Act. As such, the government does not recognize them as a First Nation, nor do they acknowledge the Lubicon Lake Nation have a reserve. The Lubicon Lake Nation has been identified as a priority at-risk community that is in dire need of assistance. There are now roughly 300 people that remain within this community.

Crisis at hand

The Lubicon Lake Nation have no running water, are in need of adequate housing and have a very high unemployment rate among other things. Water that is trucked in and placed into holding tanks has caused problems including burns and skin infections, it is undrinkable and cannot be used for bathing or for sanitation. People are traveling up to 80 kilometres each direction to access clean drinkable water and water to bathe in. There are high rates of cancer and most pregnancies result in still-birth, miscarriages or birth defects.

This is a humanitarian crisis on Canadian soil! 

Over the years, the aggressive over-development by gas and oil companies, and the subsequent oil spills in 2011 and 2013 from broken pipelines that run across the territory of the Lubicon Lake Nation, have irreparably tainted the water supply and killed the wildlife, a traditional source of food for the Lubicon Lake Nation. There is no running water, so water must be brought in. However, the quality of that water is very bad. It is heavily chlorinated and burns the skin.

Although everyone from the Lubicon Lake Nation is affected by these circumstances, the most vulnerable are the women, children and youth. Due to the irreparable damage to the land and natural water supply from the oil spills, there are high rates of illness, including various types of cancer and a high rate of miscarriages and still births (19 miscarriages/stillbirths out of 21 pregnancies), or birth defects. 

As a result, this crisis has put an enormous emotional and financial burden on this community.

How to Get Involved and Help Out 

We are asking for your support in providing these basic necessities. This community is gravely poor and without government support. Together, with your donations, we can reach our goal of $10,000 to help our brothers and sisters in humanity, and preserve their dignity. 

Any amount is helpful and greatly appreciated.