Barriers to and Strategies for Engaging Non-Indigenous Canadians in First Nations Water Rights: A Qualitative Inquiry

Abstract

Many First Nations homes lack adequate water and sanitation services. One way to address these conditions is to develop effective public engagement strategies. Thus, in this qualitative interview study, we explored how 22 non-Indigenous Canadians from one city interpreted this issue and their interest in it. We analyzed the transcribed data using thematic coding and constant comparison. Though most participants were aware of the issue and expressed sadness or anger, understandings were relatively shallow and rarely translated into active involvement. Barriers to engagement included racism and a lack of resources, capacity, and personal responsibility. Based on these findings and social psychological literature on social action, we provide recommendations for public advocacy strategies to engage non-Indigenous Canadians on the issue of First Nations water rights.

Explaining support for post-secondary educational funding for indigenous students.

“…Meritocratic beliefs can be used to explain various positive or negative outcomes in life, and thus they can serve to support the motivated view that the overall system is fair and legitimate (Jost, Pelham, Sheldon, & Sullivan, 2003). For example, rather than viewing negative outcomes experienced by Indigenous people as the result of unfair disadvantages in society, some may see these outcomes as being the result of a lack of motivation or competence (e.g., Haddock, Zanna, & Esses, 1994;Neufeld, Funk, Starzyk, Gorea, & Dansereau, 2019). Although not previously tested, PSSSP endorsement may violate meritocratic beliefs because the main eligibility requirement is First Nations status, rather than typical indicators of individual effort (e.g., academic grades).…”

“…On the one hand, some factors, such as degree of personal prejudice, may help explain support for a varie ty of such policies and programs (Stangor, 2009). For example, support for water rights for Indigenous Peoples (Neufeld et al, 2019) or assistance for international university students (Qin, Droogendyk, & Wright, 2015). On the other hand, some factors may depend on the particular policy, group, or context being examined, among other considerations.…”

Explaining Support for Post-Secondary Educational Funding for Indigenous Students

“…On the one hand, some factors, such as degree of personal prejudice, may help explain support for a variety of such policies and programs (Stangor, 2009). For example, support for water rights for Indigenous Peoples (Neufeld et al, 2019) or assistance for international university students (Qin, Droogendyk, & Wright, 2015). On the other hand, some factors may depend on the particular policy, group, or context being examined, among other considerations.…”

"Is Water a Human Right?": Priming Water as a Human Right Increases Support for Government Action

“…strategies for three research clusters: legal, including international law (Busby, 2016) and Anishinaabe water law (Craft, 2014); economic (O'Gorman & Penner, 2018); and public engagement (Bonnycastle, 2015;Neufeld et al, 2019). Cluster leads met or emailed several times each year, exchanging knowledges and providing feedback on projects, and once a year Elders, academics, and community partners co-presented at a conference on the topic.…”

“…We also wanted our strategy to be acceptable to First Nations Peoples and relatively easy and flexible for the average person to use, as we describe later. For more information about how our research team came to be, see Neufeld et al (2019). Toward these goals, we investigated whether framing water as a human right might increase non-Indigenous Canadians' support for providing clean running water to all First Nations.…”