Zagozewski Rebecca, Judd-Henrey Ian, Nilson Suzie, Bharadwaj Lalita
College of Graduate Studies and Research.
Environ Health Insights. 2011 Apr 28;5:9-20. doi: 10.4137/EHI.S6974.
The impact of current and historical waste disposal practices on the environment and human health of Indigenous people in First Nations communities has yet to be adequately addressed. Solid waste disposal has been identified as a major environmental threat to First Nations Communities. A community-based participatory research project (CBPR) was initiated by the Saskatoon Tribal Council Health and Family Services Incorporated to investigate concerns related to waste disposal in three Saskatchewan First Nations Communities. Utilizing a qualitative approach, we aimed to gain an understanding of past and present waste disposal practices and to identify any human and environmental health concerns related to these practices. One to one interviews and sharing circles were conducted with Elders. Elders were asked to share their perspectives on past and present waste disposal practices and to comment on the possible impacts these practices may have on the environment and community health. Historically waste disposal practices were similar among communities. The homeowner generated small volumes of waste, was exclusively responsible for disposal and utilized a backyard pit. Overtime waste disposal evolved to weekly pick-up of un-segregated garbage with waste disposal and open trash burning in a community dump site. Dump site locations and open trash burning were identified as significant health issues related to waste disposal practices in these communities. This research raises issues of inequity in the management of waste in First Nations Communities. It highlights the need for long-term sustainable funding to support community-based waste disposal and management strategies and the development of First Nations centered and delivered educational programs to encourage the adoption and implementation of waste reduction, reutilization and recycling activities in these communities.
当前及历史上的废物处理方式对原住民社区的环境及原住民健康所产生的影响，尚未得到充分解决。固体废物处理已被认定为对原住民社区的一项重大环境威胁。萨斯卡通部落理事会健康与家庭服务公司发起了一个基于社区的参与性研究项目（CBPR），以调查萨斯喀彻温省三个原住民社区中与废物处理相关的问题。我们采用定性研究方法，旨在了解过去和现在的废物处理方式，并确定与这些方式相关的任何人类健康和环境健康问题。我们与长者进行了一对一访谈和交流圈活动。我们请长者分享他们对过去和现在废物处理方式的看法，并对这些方式可能对环境和社区健康产生的影响发表意见。从历史上看，各社区的废物处理方式相似。房主产生的废物量较少，完全负责处理，并使用后院的坑。随着时间的推移，废物处理演变为每周收集未分类的垃圾，并在社区垃圾场进行废物处理和露天垃圾焚烧。垃圾场位置和露天垃圾焚烧被确定为与这些社区废物处理方式相关的重大健康问题。这项研究提出了原住民社区废物管理中的不公平问题。它强调需要长期可持续资金来支持基于社区的废物处理和管理策略，以及制定以原住民为中心并提供的教育项目，以鼓励在这些社区采用和实施减少废物、再利用和回收活动。
