The image above was tweeted out by the federal Minister of Indigenous Services, Marc Miller on March 18, 2020 and was directed towards Indigenous communities.

In this pandemic, we are told to wash our hands as often as we can to protect ourselves, our loved ones, and our neighbors. But what if you don't have water with which you can safely do so?

Viewing this graphic makes me starkly aware of how Canada has completely failed Indigenous communities.

After $27 billion dollars was announced to help Canadians through the economic downturn, it became very clear that not providing clean water to Indigenous communities has never been about a lack of money.

It's about a lack of political will.

We are all in this together, but these communities are among the most vulnerable in our country and now that we find ourselves in the midst of a pandemic, I am scared that this injustice will have even more damaging impacts than before.

I know many Listen & Learn readers have been learning about access to water in Indigenous communities, and building relationships with water including through the Junior Water Walkers initiative.

So today I am grateful for all you do to educate yourselves and your students about these issues. Thank you all for doing your part to contribute to changing consciousness and perceptions about Indigenous peoples and their ways of knowing.

As this plays out, I hope you will join me in renewed efforts towards justice for the original peoples of this land.

In the meantime, take care of yourselves, your families, and each other. And please reach out if you have any questions, and I will do my best to support you.