JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019

First Nations Still Thirsty for Safe Systems

Indigenous Water Industry Influencers

Partnership to Protect Wild Rivers

Reconciliation and Ecosystem Repair january/february 2019 water week at VOLUME 19 NUMBER 1 blue mountain May 26 - 31, 2019

features special feature 15 Water Warrior Phenomenal at 14: Autumn Peltier. 8 The Adventures of Fatberg By Connie Vitello

By Nathan T. Wright 26 Emerging Employment Inaugural 10 intern graduates. drinking water By Emily Worts 30 Women in the Industry 10 Thirsty for Reform Interview with Andreanne Simard What does reconciliation mean for on leaning into water safe water governance and water law? industry leadership.

By Caleb Behn By Connie Vitello conveyance columns

18 Proactive Approach 24 28 Young Professional Selkirk First Nation and Minto Water First valedictorian mining report on socioeconomics. explains his experience.

By Todd Westcott By Eric VaUtour 32 Rules & Regs water resources Legal tools to navigate the new normal.

20 River Runs Through It By Rosie Simms, First Nations partnership for Laura Brandes, ecosystem river repair. and Oliver M. Brandes By Cheryl Ashlie 26 34 Groundbreakers Real-time management stormwater system for distribution.

By Sanjay Patel 24 Flood Resilience Communities come together 42 H2Opinion to tackle flooding. Teamwork to protect the Liard wild river. By Clara Blakelock By CoRrine Porter governance and Heather Crochetiere 30 36 Blue Basket departments First Indigenous Protected Area conserves valuable headwaters. 5 Editor’s Note

By Todd Westcott Radical reform needed now. 6 Front wastewater Indigenous Guardians program and Science Policy Panel. 37 Contemplating Costs 37 People & Events Results of a new study on Remembering Hans Peterson, drivers for rising rates. 32 CWWA national conference, By GLOBAL WATER LEADERS GROUP Latornell symposium, and more.

january/february 2019 3 All Photos: Water First Interns pose with Minister Hajdu after a tour of the Eric Vautour, M’Chigeeng First Nation water treatment plant. from Sheguiandah First Nation, calibrates equipment in order to test the water around his community’s drinking water intake.

Interns collect surface water samples in West Bay on .

Interns with program partners during the Graduation ceremony at the Aundeck Omni Kaning Pow Wow Grounds.

Providing employment opportunities for First Nations youth to succeed in the water industry.

By Emily Worts

When John Millar, executive director issues. He found none. “There were many for their future water treatment plant. and founder of Water First, attended government, industry, and First Nations “Within three years our First Nations a national water conference focused representatives present, but there were work became 90 per cent of what we were on First Nations water issues he was virtually no Canadian NGOs,” says Millar. doing so we changed the organization shocked at the lack of representation At the conference, Millar spoke with name to Water First (from Tin Roof Global) by Canadian NGOs. At the time Millar Indigenous representatives from coast to with an exclusive emphasis on First was running a charity addressing global coast to coast and enquired as to what Nations water challenges,” says Millar. water issues, specifically in Uganda. kinds of NGO programs were available Since then the organization has “I went to a conference in Toronto for to them and found none. collaborated with more than 50 First water projects abroad and there were Millar returned to his office in Nations communities. They have worked hundreds of people from dozens of Creemore, and started in Ontario, Quebec, and Labrador and Canadian NGOs,” recalls Millar of the exploring ways to support First Nations are currently building relationships conference in 2013. communities with water challenges. He in Manitoba. A few months later, he attended the partnered with Carleton University and Their latest effort, the Water First water conference in Ottawa, expecting began working on a baseline water quality Internship program, began with all seven to again find dozens of Canadian NGOs, study in partnership with Shawanaga First Nations on Manitoulin Island in this time addressing First Nations water First Nation, identifying an intake site the spring of 2017, and aims to increase

26 january/february 2019 the local pool of water treatment plant study in his home community and Dallas Goodfellow, 25, operators. The internship was piloted with his OIT and Water Quality was born in Sault Ste. in partnership with the United Chiefs Analyst (WQA) certification he is now Marie, and moved to and Councils of Mnidoo Minsing working for the Ontario Clean Water AOK when he was in (UCCMM), Wiikwemkoong Unceded Agency in Espanola, Ontario, less than Grade 3. The Water First Territory, and the Anishnabek Union 20 minutes from his home community. Internship inspired him of Ontario Indians, with funding to continue his education and he is now from Employment and Social Naomi Mandamin, 32, enrolled in the pre-trades program at Development . has been fascinated Cambrian College and hopes to In August 2018, 10 successful interns with science for as long eventually obtain a diploma in civil graduated from the two-year program as she can remember. engineering or environmental science. and began careers in water treatment and “I’ve always wanted to environmental science, or were inspired work in a lab,” she says. Cassidy Beaudin, 20, to continue studying water at the post- The scope of Water First’s training— plans to turn his secondary level. The internship helped from testing for chlorine, hardness, Water First Internship interns acquire necessary certification to alkalinity and turbidity to experience into a job as a begin a life dedicated to the stewardship microbiological analysis, and surface treatment plant operator. of their community’s health and water sampling—is right up her alley. Cassidy obtained both his well-being. Mandamin is now working as the OIT and WQA certification and is looking environmental coordinator for UCCMM. forward to taking on the everyday tasks that Inaugural Water First interns are part of the job, from sampling to tapping Paige Manitowabi, 29, into water lines to cleaning out holding The Water First is excited to take what tanks. He sees a bright future in the field. Internship means she learned as a Water Chelsea Antoine The Water First First intern and Debassige, 24, can work Internship offered Eric combine it with her in her home community, Vautour, 25, an growing interest in Zhiibaahaasing (the opportunity to enhance traditional ways. That mix most remote area on Manitoulin previous knowledge and of knowledge, she believes, could be the Island). She is currently the project grow his passion for key to solving many issues. Manitowabi coordinator for Swim Drink Fish activism. He is working as an is currently combining her passion for Canada in Zhiibaahaasing, a position environmental technician/OIT in his water and the environment as the she wouldn’t have been able to obtain home community and splits his time environmental field technician at without the experience she gained between the water plant and working on . during the internship. environmental projects, like his community’s source water protection “As I’m getting older, Alex Cartagena, 30, a plan. “This Internship has taught me father of two, is excited I’m starting to think more about the situation of clean water by the prospect of about the generations in our province. I didn’t know how many gainful employment that are coming. This is First Nations communities were without the internship offers. important work,” says clean water. I really want to change Before the internship Chris Wemigwans, 46, that in the next few years,” he says. of the Water First Internship. With the he worked for a quarry and when it (See page 28 for more details about Eric.) WC hands-on experience and knowledge he shutdown, his bills went unpaid. Tired gained through the internship, he is of underemployment and armed with now working for his home community, his WQA certification and GED he Emily Worts is a writer Aundeck Omni Kaning (AOK), as an now works at his local plant part-time. based in Creemore, Ont. operator in training (OIT) at the local “For our culture, water water treatment plant. is life. It’s important, Post-secondary and I try to teach my education took Alex son the same,” says Nahwegahbow, 23, Amy Waboose, 23. She For further information on the away from Whitefish recently accepted a Water First intern program, visit River First Nation but full-time position at her local water he struggled with the treatment plant and is a youth waterfirst.ngo/our-projects/ necessity of being so far away from representative on the Whitefish River water-first-internship home. The internship allowed him to Source Water Protection Committee.

january/february 2019 27 young professional Credit: Darryl Vautour

Eric Vautour working at his water treatment plant at Sheguiandah Water First First Nation on Manitoulin Grad Island. Star student Eric Vautour explains his training and how he’s equipped for the future.

My name is Eric Vautour and I am from close to water in both the literal and sessions throughout the Internship, all Sheguiandah First Nation on Manitoulin metaphorical realm, which shaped me focusing on different themes. Each one Island, one of seven communities to in a very positive way. I had to move to was as good as the next. One memorable participate in the Water First Internship. Sudbury for a while, but the Water First workshop had Traditional Knowledge Water First, a leading charitable Internship allowed me to move back to Keepers sharing their stories. Another organization working with First Nations Manitoulin and the water. I wasn’t sure focused on mapping techniques, using GIS communities to solve water challenges what to expect from this pilot project, but and ArcMap software. The most fun and through education, training, and when I learned it would bring me be back impactful workshop for me was all about meaningful collaboration. This program to my home community and allow me to environmental monitoring, in which all allowed me to receive 15 months of paid obtain provincial certifications, it was all the interns working collaboratively to training in a variety of engaging water the convincing I needed to be a part of collect five soil and water samples from science topics while living and working this amazing journey. each community. I looked forward to each in my home community of Sheguiandah and every workshop and their underlying First Nation. Internship focus on water. An added bonus of the This unique experience incorporated a The pilot program included a diverse workshops was the chance to see our variety of workshops, hands-on training, group of interns. Some of us had extensive fellow interns and engage with the Water on the job training, and incorporated knowledge and experience working First management team in person. Traditional Knowledge accompanied with water, while by Traditional Ceremony. During the others had very little. program I was able to obtain provincial Some were parents, “Eric asked us to take a chance on certification, learn on the land, teach while others were him and he’s worked very hard.” young students in the classroom about fresh out of school. water science, and connect with our Others, like myself, — John Millar, executive director community and Elders. were still finding their place in the and founder of Water First Background world. The first week I am grateful for everything water does. was spent together completing a prep Many of us participating in the program Water works in the world on many levels course for our Water Quality Analyst were from different communities but the yet what we seem most concerned about (WQA) exam. Along with obtaining our internship and our love for water unified is how water helps us physically. The WQA we also had the opportunity to us and created lasting bonds. I am excited Water First Internship has reminded obtain our Operator in Training (OIT) to see this program put into place in other me what water does for us mentally, certificate. Due to our great success we First Nation communities as I believe it spiritually, and emotionally as well. Most were offered a chance to participate in a is one crucial step in our walk towards importantly the internship has helped prep course for the entry level course for a Canada free of boil water advisories. strengthen my connection to myself, to Drinking Water Operators. We also had I feel honored every day to supply my others, and the world. The relationship the opportunity to participate in source community with safe and clean drinking that I share with water has been sacred water protection plan training which water and I believe this is the field for me ever since I was young. Attending many was being offered by the Ontario First for many years to come. WC Traditional Ceremonies when I was a Nations Technical Services Corporation. toddler, and later in my teenage years, We accomplished what we set out to do nourished this relationship. and so much more. Eric Vautour is a graduate of the I was born and raised on Manitoulin, There were six weeklong training Water First Internship program.

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