Empowering indigenous resilience with ...

Achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) remains a challenge, despite notable gains. Between 2015 and 2022, 637 million additional people accessed safely managed drinking water, yet little progress has been made in treating wastewater before environmental discharge. Untreated wastewater pollutes ecosystems, undermining biodiversity. Indigenous communities, responsible for managing up to 20% of Earth's landscapes with 80% of its biodiversity, possess valuable knowledge of water systems, viewing water as sacred and essential. However, inadequate wastewater treatment persists in these communities, as seen in Canada’s First Nations. Treatment wetlands (TWs) present a promising, nature-based solution, harnessing natural filtration and degradation processes to improve water quality. Promoting TWs could effectively address wastewater management challenges in Indigenous areas, supporting sustainable water stewardship.