Sections 7 and 15 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms in the Context of the Clean Water Crisis on Reserves: Opportunities and Challenges for First Nations Women

• Main Author: Vallani, Madiha
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: Scholarship@Western 2018
• Subjects: Canadian Charter or Rights and Freedoms; Section 7; Section 15; Equality; Life Liberty and Security of the Person; Fist Nations; Constitutional Law; Indigenous; Indian; and Aboriginal Law; Water Law; First Nations
• Online Access: https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/llmp/2; https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/context/llmp/article/1001/viewcontent/Madiha_Vallani___Final_MRP.pdf

This paper analyzes the water crisis on reserves through the lens of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Specifically, this paper discusses certain issues, stemming from the water crisis, that some First Nations women experience, through the lens of the Charter’s section 15 right to equality, and section 7 right to life, liberty, and security of the person. In doing so, this paper aims to draw attention to the various ways that the water crisis uniquely impacts First Nations women due to their intersectional experiences under the protected grounds of sex, ethnic origin, race, and residency on reserve land. The intent of this paper is to determine the viability of sections 15 and 7 as legal tools to address the water crisis for First Nations women, in hopes of advancing greater environmental justice.