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CCSS: 6.EE.B.8, MP4, MP5, MP6

TEKS: 6.9A, 6.9BB

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Water Warrior

As the chief water commissioner for the Anishinabek Nation, Autumn Peltier fights to keep water safe for everyone

November 2021
By Jennifer Hackett

Courtesy of Autumn Peltier

The first time Autumn Peltier noticed water safety warnings, she was 8 years old and visiting the Serpent River Nation in Ontario, Canada. It was one of many First Nation communities across Canada without access to clean, safe water. For decades, people in these communities have faced contamination notices and warnings to boil water before drinking or using it to bathe or brush their teeth.

It didn’t make sense to Autumn that First Nation communities didn’t have access to clean water. Canada borders the Great Lakes, a massive source of fresh water, and the Canadian government regulates most of the country’s water supply, ensuring clean and safe water. But it does not regulate the water supply for First Nation communities.

In 2016, Autumn first met Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau when she was 12 years old. During their conversation, she called on him to protect Canada’s water supply. Since then, she’s spoken at the United Nations (U.N.) in New York City twice and participated in environmental summits around the world, declaring that clean water is a human right. “Now is the time to warrior up and empower each other to stand for our planet,” Autumn said in a speech to the U.N. in 2018.

When Autumn Peltier was 8 years old, she visited the Serpent River First Nation in Ontario, Canada. That’s when she first noticed a strange warning posted in public places. It said that the community’s water was polluted. People were advised to boil water before drinking it, bathing in it, or using it to brush their teeth.

First Nations are communities that have lived in Canada since before European settlers arrived. Many haven’t had access to clean, safe water for decades. But that didn’t make sense to Autumn. She knew that Canada borders the Great Lakes, which contain plenty of fresh water to go around.

The Canadian government regulates most of the country’s water supply. Officials monitor pollution levels to make sure drinking water is clean and safe. But First Nations are different. The national government does not regulate their water supply.

Autumn is part of the Wiikwemkoong (week-wehm-koong) First Nation. In 2016, when she was 12, she met with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. During their conversation, she called on him to protect Canada’s water supply. Since then, she’s spoken at the United Nations (U.N.) in New York City and participated in environmental summits around the world. Autumn believes that clean water is a human right. “Now is the time to warrior up and empower each other to stand for our planet,” she said in a speech to the U.N. in 2018.

In 2019, Autumn, now 17, became the chief water commissioner  for the Anishinabek (ah-nish-i-NAH-bek) Nation, which represents 39 First Nations across Ontario. Autumn is part of the Wiikwemkoong (week-wehm-koong) First Nation. Her great-aunt Josephine Mandamin held the position before her. As the chief water commissioner, Autumn listens to the concerns of the communities in the Anishinabek Nation and brings them to council leaders. She also speaks to politicians, protests actions that could pollute water, and raises awareness about the universal right to clean water.

At 17, Autumn is now the chief water commissioner for the Anishinabek (ah-nish-i-NAH-bek) Nation. This group represents 39 First Nations across Ontario. Autumn’s great-aunt Josephine Mandamin held the position before her. As the chief water commissioner, Autumn talks to communities in the Anishinabek Nation and brings their concerns to council leaders. She also speaks to politicians and protests actions that could pollute water.

Madjid Mohseni

The Tl’azt’en (TLAZ-din) First Nation in British Columbia, Canada, was under a water advisory for almost 14 years—until a new water treatment plant was built in 2018.

Many communities now have safe water, but dozens are still under a water advisory in Ontario alone. Autumn works to help these communities and to speak up for those who feel ignored or silenced. She hopes that when she’s an ancestor, she’s remembered as someone who fought for the right to access clean water.

Many communities now have safe water. But dozens still have pollution problems in Ontario alone. Autumn works to help these communities and to speak up for those who feel ignored or silenced. She hopes she’ll be remembered as someone who fought for the right to clean water. 

WRITING AND GRAPHING INEQUALITIES

An inequality compares quantities. But instead of an equal sign, inequalities use one of the four symbols in the chart below. You can use word clues to determine which symbol needs to be used when writing and graphing inequalities.

SYMBOL: <
MEANING: less than
WORD CLUES: below, fewer than, almost
GRAPHING SYMBOL:

SYMBOL: >
MEANING: greater than
WORD CLUES: above, more than, over
GRAPHING SYMBOL:

SYMBOL: ≤
MEANING: less than or equal to
WORD CLUES: no more than, at most, maximum
GRAPHING SYMBOL:

SYMBOL: ≥
MEANING: greater than or equal to
WORD CLUES: no less than, at least, minimum
GRAPHING SYMBOL:

WRITING AND GRAPHING INEQUALITIES

An inequality compares quantities. But instead of an equal sign, inequalities use one of the four symbols in the chart below. You can use word clues to determine which symbol needs to be used when writing and graphing inequalities.

SYMBOL: <
MEANING: less than
WORD CLUES: below, fewer than, almost
GRAPHING SYMBOL:

SYMBOL: >
MEANING: greater than
WORD CLUES: above, more than, over
GRAPHING SYMBOL:

SYMBOL: ≤
MEANING: less than or equal to
WORD CLUES: no more than, at most, maximum
GRAPHING SYMBOL:

SYMBOL: ≥
MEANING: greater than or equal to
WORD CLUES: no less than, at least, minimum
GRAPHING SYMBOL:

Write and graph inequalities about Autumn Peltier and safe water access in Canada. Record your work and answers on our answer sheet.

Write and graph inequalities about Autumn Peltier and safe water access in Canada. Record your work and answers on our answer sheet.

A.  Since 2015, a total of 108 long-term drinking water advisories have been lifted across Canada. Of those advisories, no more than 11 were lifted in 2020. Express this inequality using the variable a.

A.  Since 2015, a total of 108 long-term drinking water advisories have been lifted across Canada. Of those advisories, no more than 11 were lifted in 2020. Express this inequality using the variable a.

B. Graph the inequality on the number line below.

B. Graph the inequality on the number line below.

A. There are currently at least 50 long-term water advisories in effect in Canada. Express this inequality using the variable w.

A. There are currently at least 50 long-term water advisories in effect in Canada. Express this inequality using the variable w.

B. Graph the inequality on the number line below.

B. Graph the inequality on the number line below.

A. The Anishinabek Nation includes more than 60,000 citizens, who account for about one-third of Ontario’s First Nations population. Express this inequality using the variable n.

A. The Anishinabek Nation includes more than 60,000 citizens, who account for about one-third of Ontario’s First Nations population. Express this inequality using the variable n.

B. Graph the inequality on the number line below.

B. Graph the inequality on the number line below.

A. When a community is under a boil water advisory, they must bring their tap water to a rolling boil for at least 60 seconds before using it in any way. Express this inequality using the variable d.

A. When a community is under a boil water advisory, they must bring their tap water to a rolling boil for at least 60 seconds before using it in any way. Express this inequality using the variable d.

B. Graph the inequality on the number line below.

B. Graph the inequality on the number line below.

There are at most 133 First Nations communities in Ontario. No fewer than 26 of these communities currently have a long-term drinking water advisory. Write this range as an inequality using the variable f.

There are at most 133 First Nations communities in Ontario. No fewer than 26 of these communities currently have a long-term drinking water advisory. Write this range as an inequality using the variable f.

Continue the Learning Journey

  • Visit the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency website to learn more about our water supplies and support efforts under the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act. Then create a poster or flyer that shares at least one way for people to help keep our water sources safe. 
  • Keep track of how much water you use throughout the day. Estimate the amount, in ounces, you drink, use for hygiene such as brushing your teeth, and more. Then describe your day’s water usage by writing 3 inequalities to represent the amounts used.
  • Play the game More or Less? to practice graphing inequalities.

Continue the Learning Journey

  • Visit the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency website to learn more about our water supplies and support efforts under the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act. Then create a poster or flyer that shares at least one way for people to help keep our water sources safe. 
  • Keep track of how much water you use throughout the day. Estimate the amount, in ounces, you drink, use for hygiene such as brushing your teeth, and more. Then describe your day’s water usage by writing 3 inequalities to represent the amounts used.
  • Play the game More or Less? to practice graphing inequalities.
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