Minister of INAC Carolyn Bennett and Chief Nathan Pasap stand with White Bear First Nation council members after the minister’s announcement of funding to replace the Nation’s water treatment system at the AFN Annual General Assembly in Regina. White Bear has been under a boil water advisory since September 2011.

An announcement addressing one of the largest issues Indigenous communities face on-reserve was made in the tiniest of rooms at the Assembly of First Nations Annual General Assembly on Tuesday, July 25.

Related: AFN, Federal government announce changes to allow funding carryover

While most of the speeches given by federal ministers at the assembly were in a huge auditorium in Evraz Place in Regina, Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Carolyn Bennett, together with Chief Nathan Pasap of White Bear First Nation, announced new funding to replace the community’s water treatment system.

White Bear First Nation has been under a water boil advisory since September 20, 2011. The government is putting $9.2 million towards the project, which is expected to be complete by December 2018.

“I think everyone here will acknowledge it’s been a long time coming and for far too long you have not had access to potable water on reserve,” said Bennett.

Bennett asserted that people living on reserves have the same rights as those in urban centres.

“You should still have the same right as those of us in downtown Toronto to be able to turn on the tap and drink the water and bathe your babies safely, things that most Canadians take totally for granted,” she said.

There are 124 drinking water advisories in 88 First Nations across Canada. In Saskatchewan, there are 25 advisories in 20 First Nations.

Despite the volume of advisories, Bennett said the government was on track with its goal of ending long-term drinking water advisories on reserves by March of 2021. She said the obstacle of having only two to three years to receive funding and implement changes to water systems on reserves has been removed by the government’s commitment of $1.8 billion over five years.

“I’d like to thank Minister Bennett for helping our community move forward in a positive way,” said Chief Pasap, who acknowledged the work of his previous chiefs, Brian Standingready and Allan Maxie, who advocated for the project.

The $1.8 billion the federal government has committed is earmarked for improving on-reserve water and wastewater infrastructure, proper facilities operation and maintenance and for training water system operators. There is also a $141.7 million set aside to improve drinking water monitoring and testing on reserves.