Treading Water
CHALLENGE: Ending all advisories in Indigenous communities by 2021 is considered a precursor of deficiency reduction and development.
However, the innovation agenda has not kept up with this ambitious policy goal. Tragically, the more Indigenous communities develop resilience and adapt to water system failures, the stronger the illusion of sustainability grows among industry leaders, disrupted only occasionally by media coverage of major incidents.
SOLUTION: Working with research-based theatre (RBT) experts at UBC, we co-developed Treading Water, an innovative 20-minute play that brings to life some of the rich stories discovered during our community collaborations. The play flows between the intersecting narratives of characters in a community dealing with unsafe drinking water, and explores the journey toward health and well-being related to water quality challenges. Water operators and their experiences are central in Treading Water, and the play illustrates their pivotal and complex role in the community. Presented by engineers, water operators and actors, the play aims to open conversations addressing water quality and health issues facing rural and Indigenous communities in the 21st century.
KEY CONSIDERATIONS: Through RBT inquiry, the experiences and perspectives of different groups of people can become more accessible and translatable to others. With this broader understanding among all players in a Community Circle project (e.g., communities, regulatory agencies, suppliers, consultants, industry, academics), an innovation agenda can be built upon shared appreciation for the roles each has to play, and shared values with respect to innovation.
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Additional Case Studiess
Discovering Common Ground
Shifting from Sequential to Simultaneous
Breaking with Conventions
Support Water Health
You can help increase access to clean, safe water in Indigenous and rural communities. Consider becoming a Community Circle partner or investor to increase the impact and scope of our work.