Treading Water
CHALLENGE: Ending all advisories in Indigenous communities by 2021 is considered a precursor of deficiency reduction and development.
However, the innovation agenda has not kept up with this ambitious policy goal. Tragically, the more Indigenous communities develop resilience and adapt to water system failures, the stronger the illusion of sustainability grows among industry leaders, disrupted only occasionally by media coverage of major incidents.
SOLUTION: Working with research-based theatre (RBT) experts at UBC, we co-developed Treading Water, an innovative 20-minute play that brings to life some of the rich stories discovered during our community collaborations. The play flows between the intersecting narratives of characters in a community dealing with unsafe drinking water, and explores the journey toward health and well-being related to water quality challenges. Water operators and their experiences are central in Treading Water, and the play illustrates their pivotal and complex role in the community. Presented by engineers, water operators and actors, the play aims to open conversations addressing water quality and health issues facing rural and Indigenous communities in the 21st century.
KEY CONSIDERATIONS: Through RBT inquiry, the experiences and perspectives of different groups of people can become more accessible and translatable to others. With this broader understanding among all players in a Community Circle project (e.g., communities, regulatory agencies, suppliers, consultants, industry, academics), an innovation agenda can be built upon shared appreciation for the roles each has to play, and shared values with respect to innovation.
To tackle water advisories in Indigenous communities, we created "Treading Water," a 20-minute play with UBC's research-based theatre experts. The play highlights the experiences of water operators and communities, aiming to spark dialogue on water quality issues.
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Water Health Equity
One in six Canadians, including the majority of 1.6 million Indigenous people, live in rural areas and often face exposure to negative health and socio-economic impacts from unsafe drinking water. It’s a persistent crisis that has dragged on for decades, a dubious achievement for a rich nation often celebrated as a global humanitarian and human rights leader.
Treading Water
To tackle water advisories in Indigenous communities, we created "Treading Water," a 20-minute play with UBC's research-based theatre experts. The play highlights the experiences of water operators and communities, aiming to spark dialogue on water quality issues.
Operators’ Walkthrough Lab (OWL): Digital Circle in Action
RESEAU created AR apps for virtual walkthroughs of water treatment plants, enabling community input, reducing design errors, and providing remote monitoring and training. These tools were piloted at Yukon University in 2020 to support operator training and design accuracy.
