Degrading third-world conditions one more hurdle for disabled man on reserve ST. THERESA POINT -- A little whistle means Kevin Taylor has managed to hoist himself over the slop pail by himself and doesn't need his mother's help.

Reserves to get upgrade Nine First Nations with the diciest drinking water will get upgrades to their treatment plants and pipes over the next four years -- good news for a province plagued with water woes.

Easy to judge, difficult to escape When we stepped into Richard Andrews' home in Wasagamack, we had only one question: Why the hell are you living here?

Red Sucker Lake water woes boil over OTTAWA -- The chief of a northern Manitoba First Nation says his reserve is nearing a water crisis after more than half of the band's residents were cut off from a primitive water system.

High & dry ISLAND LAKE -- Thousands of Manitoba residents an hour's flight from Winnipeg have no running water in their homes, putting them at increased risk for a host of health problems usually associated with the world's poorest countries.

Less water than a refugee camp ST. THERESA POINT -- Geordie Rae traipses wearily through the bush to a neighbour’s house a couple of times a day, panting under the weight of a plastic pail of water.

Dry zone On the otherwise empty wall of my cubicle is a single sheet of paper. "I need runing water today," it says in the shaky handwriting of an elder from Wasagamack.

Poor sanitation, poor health ST. THERESA POINT -- Baby Jacob’s face is covered in crusting sores that look painful, but he sleeps in his mother’s arms, beautiful moccasins made by his great-grandmother on his dangling feet.

Getting tap water a miracle RACHEL Mason witnessed the miracle of her son recovering from a head injury and a month-long coma.