TORONTO -- The first time Autumn Peltier noticed a boil-water advisory in a First Nations community, she was just eight years old.
鈥淚 asked my mom what that meant,鈥� Peltier, who is turning 15 this week, told CTVNews.ca by phone. 鈥淲hen she explained to me that our water is not safe to drink, it all hit me.鈥�
The Indigenous teen from northeastern Ontario has since been advocating for clean water in First Nations communities across the country.
Peltier is in New York City this week to speak about the importance of clean water at the Global Landscape Forum at the UN.
Earlier this week, Greta Thunberg delivered a moving speech at the UN Climate Action Summit -- calling out world leaders who have failed young people on climate change action. Peltier said she has not had a chance to meet Thunberg, but would like to.
鈥淚鈥檓 focusing less on what鈥檚 going on and more on what actions we need to take,鈥� she said of the speech she鈥檚 presenting Saturday morning. 鈥淲e need solutions to improve the environment and water.鈥�
Peltier is following in the footsteps of her late great aunt Josephine Mandamin, who was a passionate advocate for the protection of the Great Lakes. She died at the age of 77 in February.
鈥淚鈥檝e picked up what the work she was doing,鈥� she said. Peltier was named the Chief Water Commissioner by the Anishinabek Nation following the passing of her great aunt.
In a 2018 speech to the UN, Peltier said that 鈥渨here I come from, I鈥檓 fortunate that I can still drink the water from the lake but sometimes I question it. Not far from where I live, there are communities that have lived through boil-water advisories. I ask myself: Why is it this way? Why in my province? Why in my country?鈥�
The Liberal government has promised to end all long-term drinking water advisories on reserves by March 2021. According to Indigenous Services Canada , as of September, 56 long-term drinking water advisories remain. Since 2015, 87 long-term advisories have been lifted.
Though she said she鈥檚 feeling overwhelmed by the media attention, she鈥檚 no stranger to making public speeches and has met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Assembly of First Nations to advocate for clean water.
Despite her many accomplishments at a young age -- her most recent one is a nomination for the International Children鈥檚 Peace Prize by the David Suzuki Foundation -- Peltier remains humble and excited by the opportunity to have her voice heard by many.
鈥淚 do not do this work for media or award recognition, I do it for all my people and the environment,鈥� said Peltier.
School is a priority for the teen -- Peltier said she does one speaking engagement per month so she doesn鈥檛 miss out on classes. She also focuses on playing sports and keeping up with her friends.
鈥淚t is a challenge sometimes, but on the other side, there is work that needs to be done,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檓 doing it for my auntie Josephine too.鈥�
Peltier 鈥渟trongly encourages鈥� other young people to speak up about climate issues.
鈥淎nyone can do this work because I was just a little kid making speeches,鈥� she advised. 鈥淥ur message is stronger when it鈥檚 more than one person.鈥�
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story said Peltier will be speaking at the Climate Action Summit. That was an error. Peltier will be speaking at the Global Landscapes Forum at the UN.
