Peter Hill, Environmental Public Health Officer
Meet Peter Hill, an Indigenous Environmental Public Health Officer, as he spends the day with Six Nations of the Grand River and Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. Get a glimpse into his role, his strong ties to the community, and the fulfillment he finds in making a difference.
Peter Hill, Environmental Public Health Officer
This video is also available on YouTube in Cree, Innu Montagnais, Ojibway, Mohawk, Mi'kmaq and Oji Cree.
Transcript of video: Environmental Public Health Officer: Peter Hill
My name is Peter Hill. I am Mohawk Turtle Clan. And I'm an Environmental Public Health Officer with Indigenous Services Canada.
I grew up next to Lake Erie in the Niagara River, and fishing was one of our big things that myself and my friends loved to do.
My parents, both born in, Six Nations of the Grand River, and they are members of Six Nations band. I am also a member of the Six Nations band as well.
I have been with Indigenous Services Canada for 26 years, and I cover Six Nations of the Grand River and Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.
I have a lot of family and relatives that still live in the community, to be able to work in the community where your parents were born and grew up, and being able to work with family, just being able to see and hear that you're actually doing something that is helping someone else, it's a good feeling.
Coming into the community, people are happier to see a First Nation person doing this job. Because of that, they are a little bit more accepting. Having that kind of camaraderie with your community, that's a big thing. These relationships that you build really assists and helps you do your job.
Environmental Public Health Officers are essential because we are there to help the community. To educate, do water testing, inspections of installations of wells or cisterns, inspections of homes, mold in homes, indoor air quality in homes. We are also involved with septic systems, malfunctioning or installations of septic systems. We are also involved with inspections of schools and daycares.
First Nation communities are growing, and public health is a major factor for the health and safety of the community and the ones that can help provide that are Environmental Public Health Officers. That means there's more work, more things to investigate, inspect, look at. Having more EPHOs, being able to cover our First Nation communities is essential.
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We are honoured to have been welcomed by the Mississaugas of the Credit and Six Nations of the Grand River, and give thanks to the communities for allowing us to visit and film.
Thank you/Miigwech/Niá:wen
EPHO
Environmental Public Health Officer
A career that supports and honours land, water, air and community