Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress 2023 EHA Congress 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

A round-up of the ONWARDS phase 3 clinical trials evaluating the novel weekly insulin icodec in people with diabetes.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2017

Open Access 01-12-2017 | Research article

How does the media portray drinking water security in Indigenous communities in Canada? An analysis of Canadian newspaper coverage from 2000-2015

Authors: Steven Lam, Ashlee Cunsolo, Alexandra Sawatzky, James Ford, Sherilee L. Harper

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2017

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

Drinking water insecurity and related health outcomes often disproportionately impact Indigenous communities internationally. Understanding media coverage of these water-related issues can provide insight into the ways in which public perceptions are shaped, with potential implications for decision-making and action. This study aimed to examine the extent, range, and nature of newspaper coverage of drinking water security in Canadian Indigenous communities.

Methods

Using ProQuest database, we systematically searched for and screened newspaper articles published from 2000 to 2015 from Canadian newspapers: Windspeaker, Toronto Star, The Globe and Mail, and National Post. We conducted descriptive quantitative analysis and thematic qualitative analysis on relevant articles to characterize framing and trends in coverage.

Results

A total of 1382 articles were returned in the search, of which 256 articles were identified as relevant. There was limited coverage of water challenges for Canadian Indigenous communities, especially for Métis (5%) and Inuit (3%) communities. Most stories focused on government responses to water-related issues, and less often covered preventative measures such as source water protection. Overall, Indigenous peoples were quoted the most often. Double-standards of water quality between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, along with conflict and cooperation efforts between stakeholders were emphasized in many articles.

Conclusion

Limited media coverage could undermine public and stakeholder interest in addressing water-related issues faced by many Canadian Indigenous communities.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Literature
1.
2.
Adelson N. The embodiment of inequity: health disparities in Aboriginal Canada. Can J Public Health. 2005;96:45–61.
3.
Eggertson L. Despite federal promises, first nations’ water problems persist. Can Med Assoc J. 2008;178:985.CrossRef
4.
Eggertson L. Safe drinking water standards for First Nations communities. Can Med Assoc J. 2006;174:1248.CrossRef
5.
Patrick RJ. Uneven access to safe drinking water for First Nations in Canada: Connecting health and place through source water protection. Health Place. 2011;17:386–9.CrossRefPubMed
6.
7.
Metcalfe C, Murray C, Collins L, Furgal C. Water quality and human health in indigenous communities in Canada. Glob Bioeth. 2011;24:91–4.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
Martin D, Bélanger D, Gosselin P, Brazeau J, Furgal C, Déry S. Drinking water and potential threats to human health in nunavik: Adaptation strategies under climate change conditions. Arctic. 2007;60:195–202.
13.
Harper SL, Edge VL, Schuster-Wallace CJ, Berke O, McEwen SA. Weather, water quality and infectious gastrointestinal illness in two Inuit communities in Nunatsiavut, Canada: Potential implications for climate change. Ecohealth. 2011;8:93–108.CrossRefPubMed
14.
Bentley D, Murphy B. Power, praxis and the métis of Kelly lake, Canada. Can J Native Stud. 2006;26:289–312.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
Ford JD, Berrang-Ford L, King M, Furgal C. Vulnerability of Aboriginal health systems in Canada to climate change. Glob Environ Chang. 2010;20:668–80.CrossRef
24.
Harper SL, Edge VL, Ford J, Thomas MK, Pearl DL, Shirley J, et al. Acute gastrointestinal illness in two Inuit communities: burden of illness in Rigolet and Iqaluit, Canada. Epidemiol Infect. 2015;143:1–16.CrossRef
25.
Pardhan-Ali A, Wilson J, Edge VL, Furgal C, Reid-Smith R, Santos M, et al. A descriptive analysis of notifiable gastrointestinal illness in the Northwest Territories, Canada, 1991-2008. BMJ Open. 2012;2:e000732.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
26.
27.
Messier V, Lévesque B, Proulx JF, Rochette L, Serhir B, Couillard M, et al. Seroprevalence of Seven Zoonotic Infections in Nunavik, Quebec (Canada). Zoonoses Public Health. 2012;59:107–17.CrossRefPubMed
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
Kim A, Barbara C, Margaret HB. Carriers of water: Aboriginal women’s experiences, relationships, and reflections. J Clean Prod. 2013;60:11–7.CrossRef
33.
Schelwald-van der Kley L, Reijerkerk L. Water. In: Bakker K, editor. A way of life: Sustainable water management in a cultural context. London: Taylor Francis Group; 2009.CrossRef
34.
Goldhar C, Bell T, Wolf J. Vulnerability to freshwater changes in the Inuit settlement region of Nunatsiavut, Labrador: A case study from Rigolet. Arctic. 2014;67:71–83.CrossRef
35.
Cunsolo Willox A, Harper SL, Edge VL, Landman K, Houle K, Ford JD. The land enriches the soul: On climatic and environmental change, affect, and emotional health and well-being in Rigolet, Nunatsiavut, Canada. Emot Sp Soc. 2013;6:14–24.CrossRef
36.
Cunsolo Willox A, Harper SL, Ford JD, Landman K, Houle K, Edge VL. “From this place and of this place:” Climate change, sense of place, and health in Nunatsiavut, Canada. Soc Sci Med. 2012;75:538–47.CrossRefPubMed
37.
Dupont D, Waldner C, Bharadwaj L, Plummber R, Carter B, Cave K, et al. Drinking water management: health risk perceptions and choices in First Nations and non-First Nations communities in Canada. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2014;11:5889–903.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
38.
39.
Peacock WG, Brody SD, Highfield W. Hurricane risk perceptions among Florida’s single family homeowners. Landsc Urban Plan. 2005;73:120–35.CrossRef
40.
Steg L, Sievers I. Cultural theory and individual perceptions of environmental risks. Environ Behav. 2000;32:250–69.CrossRef
41.
42.
Lomborg B. The skeptical environmentalist: Measuring the real state of the world. New York: Cambridge University Press; 2001.CrossRef
43.
44.
Driedger SM. Risk and the media: a comparison of print and televised news stories of a Canadian drinking water risk event. Risk Anal. 2007;27:775–86.CrossRefPubMed
45.
McCombs ME, Shaw DL. The agenda-setting function of mass media. Public Opin Q. 1972;36:176–87.CrossRef
46.
Mazur A. Global environmental change in the news: 1987-90 vs 1992-6. Int Sociol. 1998;13:457–72.CrossRef
47.
Scheufele DA, Shanahan J, Kim S-H. Who cares about local politics? media influences on local political involvement, issue awareness, and attitude strength. J Mass Commun Q. 2002;79:427–44.
48.
Bennet W. News: the politics of illusion. White Plains: Longman; 2002.
49.
Semetko HA, Valkenburg PM. Framing european politics: a content analysis of press and television news. J Commun. 2000;50:93–109.CrossRef
50.
Harding R. The media aboriginal people and common sense. Can J Native Stud. 2005;1:311–35.
51.
52.
53.
54.
55.
Landis JR, Koch GG. The measurement of observer agreement for categorical data. Biometrics. 1977;33:159–74.CrossRefPubMed
56.
Fereday J, Muir-Cochrane E. Demonstrating rigor using thematic analysis: a hybrid approach of inductive and deductive coding and theme development. Int J Qual Methods. 2006;5:80–92.
57.
Braun V, Clarke V. Using thematic analysis in psychology using thematic analysis in psychology. Qual Res Psychol. 2006;3:77–101.CrossRef
58.
de Vreese C, Boomgaarden H. Valenced news frames and public support for the EU: linking content analysis and experimental data. Eur J Commun. 2003;21:261–81.
59.
Iyengar S. Is anyone responsible? Chicago: University of Chicago Press; 1991.CrossRef
60.
Joffe H, Yardley L. Content and thematic analysis. In: Marks DF, Yardley L, editors. Research methods for clinical and health Pyschology. London: Sage; 2003. p. 56–68.
61.
Fitzgerald M. First Nations drinking-water plan gets $330M; “Big-Picture View.” Don Mills. ON: National Pos; 2008. p. A4.
62.
Ashawasegai J. Nations wary about plans to reopen mine. Edmonton: Windspeaker; 2012. p. 8.
63.
Fontaine P. Budget a blow to First Nations’ hopes: First Nations rejected by Budget 2007. Toronto: Toronto Star; 2007. p. A21.
64.
Ha TT. Canada violates native rights, UN told. Toronto: The Globe and Mail; 2000. p. A8.
65.
Diebel L. Native community lacks safe water. Toronto: Toronto Star; 2010. p. A7.
66.
Howlett K. Ontario orders survey of water on reserves. Toronto: The Globe and Mail; 2005. p. A8.
67.
MacKinnon M. Vital to improve water quality on reserves, group says. Toronto: The Globe and Mail; 2001. p. A5.
68.
Martin D. Time for action, Prentice says. Don Mills: National Post; 2006. p. A11.
69.
Steele D. Page 5 Chatter. Edmonton: Windspeaker; 2010. p. 1.
70.
Fife R. Native chiefs welcome PM’s intervention. Don Mills: National Post; 2001. p. A6.
71.
Welsh J. Disturbing double standard. Toronto: Toronto Star; 2010. p. 20.
72.
Taillon J. A Walkerton waiting to happen. Edmonton: Windspeake; 2002. p. 1.
73.
Anonymous. Unsafe to drink? Hard to swallow. Toronto: The Globe and Mail; 2015. p. A12.
74.
Brean J. Trudeau’s to-do list has a lot of urgent items. Don Mills: National Post; 2015. p. A5.
75.
76.
Furgal CM, Garvin TD, Jardine CG. Trends in the study of aboriginal health risks in Canada. Int J Circumpolar Health. 2010;69:322–32.CrossRefPubMed
77.
Furgal C, Seguin J. Climate change, health, and vulnerability in Canadian northern Aboriginal communities. Environ Health Perspect. 2006;114:1964–70.PubMedPubMedCentral
78.
Hoover E, Cook K, Plain R, Sanchez K, Waghiyi V, Miller P, et al. Indigenous peoples of North America: Environmental Exposures and Reproductive Justice. Environ Health Perspect. 2015;120:1645–9.
79.
Palmater PD. Stretched beyond human limits: death by poverty in First Nations. Can Rev Soc Policy. 2011;65:112–27.
80.
Eggertson L. Physicians challenge Canada to make children, youth a priority. Can Med Assoc J. 2007;176:1693–4.CrossRef
81.
Barclay K, Liu JH. Who gets voice? (Re)presentation of bicultural relations in New Zealand print media. NZ J Psychol. 2003;32:3–12.
82.
Walters D, Spence N, Kuikman K, Singh B. Multi-barrier protection of drinking water systems in Ontario: a comparison of First Nation and non-First Nation communities. Int Indig Policy J. 2012;3:1–23.
83.
Barnes MD, Hanson CL, Novilla LMB, Meacham AT, McIntyre E, Erickson BC. Analysis of media agenda setting during and after Hurricane Katrina: Implications for emergency preparedness, disaster response, and disaster policy. Am J Public Health. 2008;98:604–10.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
84.
Carvalho A, Burgess J. Cultural circuits of climate change in U.K. broadsheet newspapers, 1985-2003. Risk Anal. 2005;25:1457–69.CrossRefPubMed
85.
Anderson A. Media, culture and the environment. London: UCL Press; 1997.
86.
87.
Hurlimann A, Dolnicar S. Newspaper coverage of water issues in Australia. Water Res. 2012;46:6497–507.CrossRefPubMed
88.
McCullough J, Farahbakhsh K. Square peg, round hole: First Nations drinking water infrastructure and federal policies, programs, and processes. Int Indig Policy J. 2012;3:1–22.
89.
White JP, Murphy L, Spence N. Water and peoples: Canada’s paradox. Int Indig Policy J. 2012;3:1–25.
90.
91.
92.
93.
94.
Hrudey SE, Payment P, Huck PM, Gillham RW, Hrudey EJ. A fatal waterborne disease epidemic in Walkerton, Ontario: Comparison with other waterborne outbreaks in the developed world. Water Sci Technol. 2003;47:7–14.PubMed
95.
Holme R. Drinking water contamination in Walkerton, Ontario: Positive resolutions from a tragic event. Water Sci Technol. 2003;47:1–6.PubMed
96.
McGregor D. Traditional knowledge: considerations for protecting water in Ontario. Int Indig Policy J. 2012;3:1–21.
97.
98.
Dotson DM, Jacobson SK, Kaid LL, Carlton JS. Media coverage of climate change in Chile: a content analysis of conservative and liberal newspapers. Environ Commun. 2012;6:64–81.CrossRef
99.
Boykoff MT, Boykoff JM. Climate change and journalistic norms: a case-study of US mass-media coverage. Geoforum. 2007;38:1190–204.CrossRef
100.
Young N. Representations of climate change in canadian national print media: the banalization of global warming. Can Rev Sociol. 2011;48:1–22.CrossRef
101.
102.
Charron D, Thomas MK, Waltner-Toews D, Aramini JJ, Edge T, Kent RA, et al. Vulnerability of waterborne diseases to climate change in Canada: a review. J Toxicol Environ Heal Part A. 2004;67:1667–77.CrossRef
103.
Metadata
Title
How does the media portray drinking water security in Indigenous communities in Canada? An analysis of Canadian newspaper coverage from 2000-2015
Authors
Steven Lam
Ashlee Cunsolo
Alexandra Sawatzky
James Ford
Sherilee L. Harper
Publication date
01-12-2017
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2017
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-017-4164-4

Other articles of this Issue 1/2017

BMC Public Health 1/2017 Go to the issue

Research article

Behavioral activation for smoking cessation and mood management following a cardiac event: results of a pilot randomized controlled trial

Research article

Prevalence of multimorbidity in Germany: impact of age and educational level in a cross-sectional study on 19,294 adults

Research article

Knowledge and attitudes about vitamin D, and behaviors related to vitamin D in adults with and without coronary heart disease in Saudi Arabia

Technical advance

Attaching metabolic expenditures to standard occupational classification systems: perspectives from time-use research

Research article

Big hearts, small hands: a focus group study exploring parental food portion behaviours

Erratum

Erratum to: Household preferences for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in four European high-income countries: Does health information matter? A mixed-methods study protocol