Perspectives of water and health using Photovoice with youths living on reserve

In Canada, inequities persist in the provision of safe drinking water on First Nation reserves. First Nation reserve communities are creating opportunities and initiating various strategies for youth to connect with others to learn and share knowledge of water resource management, protection and stewardship, and community water issues. Community-based research projects facilitate opportunities for youths' voices to be heard and cultural resilience to be enhanced. This project facilitated the sharing of youth perspectives on values associated with water and health on their reserve as a part of a larger research program. Modified Photovoice, herein called Postervoice, and sharing circles occurred with 19 Junior Rangers. Connections between their knowledge of water and perceptions about how water pertains to overall health were shared. Youth valued the aesthetics of on-reserve water assets, were averse to polluted waters and the risk of losing opportunities to undertake traditional activities, and exhibited pride for their water treatment plant. Implications for community leaders, policy makers, and researchers are discussed.