Water First Education and Training Inc.
178 Mill Street L0M1G0 Creemore, ON, Canada

The POSSIBLE WORLDS Foundation, a partner of ours and a supporter of our Indigenous School Water Program, is an organization that provides essential support and education to children and youth in need. They’re hosting a special dinner and fundraiser that supports children in need. Partnering with a local restaurant in Toronto to provide a 3-course meal with proceeds going towards their education and support efforts. Click here for more info: https://www.possibleworlds.ca/dinner

We're grateful for a growing community of friends and followers interested in addressing local water challenges in Indigenous communities. Now, we hope to take a few moments to break down our work here at Water First. There's a lot to read here! The photos shown here are from our work with the Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach, a perfect example of our Environmental Water programs. This two-year project helps address the community's concerns about possible water contaminati...on from nearby mining activities through a mercury contamination study on the lakes commonly harvested for fish by the Nation, and through a community-based fish habitat restoration and education project initiated in the Caniapiscau River watershed. To find out more about our programs and how you can help empower more First Nations communities to ensure safe, clean water, click here: https://waterfirst.ngo/what-we-do/environmental-water/

Thank you Steve Paikin and The Agenda with Steve Paikin for being part of the conversation, and for inviting us to be part of the panel to explore the importance of sustainable access to safe, clean water. TVO Nishnawbe Aski Nation https://www.tvo.org/video/ending-long-term-water-advisories

Press Release: New Training Internship for Water Treatment Plant Operators The Waabnoong Bemjiwang Association of First Nations (WBAFN), a tribal council with six member First Nations in northern Ontario, and Canadian charity Water First Education & Training Inc. announce their partnership to deliver a drinking water treatment and environmental water science internship program for young Indigenous adults. Together, WBAFN and Water First will address local needs for more young... and qualified personnel in the water management field to help ensure safe drinking water in communities, not only for today but also for future generations. Read the full release below. Anishinabek Nation

We're happy to join the community. Thank you, 1% for the Planet!

Last month, Zach Stabb from Châteauguay, Quebec biked 603 kilometres from Montreal to Toronto to help raise awareness for the water challenges faced by Indigenous communities in Canada. The initiative was an overwhelming success: In roughly one month, the fundraiser has raised an incredible $7,533 (and counting - it remains open until Monday, Sept. 28th). We're thrilled and proud of Zach for taking action to help solve local water challenges, and honoured to be supported by his efforts. Thank you so much, Zach! Here's what he had to say about his experience: Click here to view the fundraiser: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/pages/603kmforhope-2/

What do interns in the Drinking Water Internship Program learn? With over 2,000 hours of training in the classroom, at local water treatment facilities, and out on the land - quite a lot! A few weeks ago, Walkerton Clean Water Centre delivered the second week of Entry-Level Course training and certification exam. Here's a look into what happened: Photo 1: One of the parameters to test when determining the quality of water is turbidity, or murkiness. The more turbid the water,... the lower the quality of the water. Interns were using a turbidity meter to test the NTU levels (Nephlometric Turbidity Units) of a water sample. Photo 2: Alkalinity is a measure of water's ability to neutralize acidity. An alkalinity test measures the level of bicarbonates, carbonates, and hydroxides in water. Interns titrated water samples to test them for alkalinity. What else would you like to learn about? Let us know!

One of the most common questions we are asked is, how can I make a big difference? In Ontario, 2 in 5 First Nations are under a boil water advisory: the water crisis in Indigenous communities across Canada is unacceptable, and were working to address these water challenges. How can you make a big difference? Become a monthly donor! By donating an amount that works for you each month, you can support programs that create lasting results, like our newest internship program w...ith Bimose Tribal Council: 16 young Indigenous adults from 11 First Nations communities in Northwestern Ontario are training to become certified water plant operators to help ensure sustainable, safe drinking water in their communities for the long term. Join the growing number of individuals, businesses, and organizations that are committed to safe, clean water. To #BecomeAMonthlyDonor click the link. https://waterfirst.ngo/donate/ #WaterFirst #WaterCrisis #Collaboration #NWOntario

We can make a difference by bringing the information we have learned back to the community, shares Noah Mokoush. I want the community to feel secure and show them that its okay to fish, but we have to be careful. Our team has been working with the Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach on a contaminant study to establish baseline mercury and heavy metals concentrations in the soil, water, and traditionally harvested fish, and on a community-based fish habitat restoration and ...education project to enhance five brook trout spawning sites. Heres a drone selfie with the team! In the photo, from left to right: Lawrence Mameanskum, Water First Environmental Intern from Kawawachikamach Ryan Osman, Water Resources Specialist with Water First Noah Mokoush, Water First Environmental Intern from Kawawachikamach Jag Saini, Project Manager & Instructor at Water First

A few weeks ago, our staff were able to return to Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach - to reconnect with the interns on a few ongoing projects with the community. During the visit, we worked together to complete the sampling portion of a mercury and heavy metals study, which has now entered the data processing stage. We also conducted site assessments for a fish habitat restoration and education project and collected data at two fishing derbies organized by the communities! It's exciting to be safely working with communities once again. #WaterQuality #HabitatRestoration #WaterFirst

"Having Indigenous roots myself, I've been aware of the many struggles these communities face. As a small business owner, I know first hand the empowerment that comes from sharing knowledge. That's why I donate to Water First, because education and collaboration with communities has a ripple effect that money alone wouldn't have." - Alexandra Apple (Owner of Unlistd) Water First donors all share one thing in common: a desire to help solve water challenges. Join the growing number of individuals, businesses, and organizations that choose to support Water First monthly. Head to our website to #BecomeAMonthlyDonor: https://waterfirst.ngo/donate/

We began our journey in 2009, bringing drinking water resources to rural schools in Uganda and providing training on the operations and maintenance of the water and sanitation systems we installed. Water First began working with First Nations in Canada in 2012 after being challenged and inspired by community members about why we werent working with communities experiencing water challenges here in Canada. Our projects with Indigenous communities were initially small but grew... quickly. Within a few years, our collaborations accounted for nearly 90% of program resources. Water First dedicated itself exclusively to working with Indigenous communities in 2016. We focus on both drinking water and environmental water concerns, as well as water science education for youth. To date, Water First has collaborated with Indigenous communities in Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Labrador to address water challenges through education and training. waterfirst.ngo/about-us/our-story/

The Water Walker, which features Anishinabek Nation Chief Water Commissioner and member of Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory, Autumn Peltier, premieres at TIFF tomorrow night (September 14th) at 6:00PM EDT. This powerful documentary follows 15-year-old Autumn as she travels to New York City to speak at the Climate Action Summit held at the United Nations headquarters last September, with the hope of preserving the future of Indigenous communities for generations to come. We're i...nspired by Autumn's incredible work advocating for clean drinking water in Indigenous communities around the world, and we can't wait to watch the film! Head to the link in our bio to grab your ticket. Photo: Linda Roy

Each month, donors from all over help support Water First by making a monthly contribution. Together we are helping to ensure safe, clean, drinking water is accessible for all. Thank you to everyone who continues to invest in our work. Head to waterfirst.ngo/donate to #BecomeAMonthlyDonor. #FanFriday

Last summer, we joined Joseph H. Kennedy Public School for water science workshops and a watershed remediation project. However, when the students arrived at the chosen tree-planting location, the Water First truck was stuck on a muddy road somewhere else.. Without any tree planting supplies, everyone put their heads together to ensure the day would still go on. To keep the kids busy, an Elder from the community ran traditional activities with the students. Meanwhile, some of... the staff began a rescue mission to retrieve the tree planting supplies, and with the help of many community members, the supplies, truck and trailer were freed from the mud! During this visit, students also conducted water quality analysis on their local Black River and the nearby Big Nellie Lake. The data collected was added to a global interactive map hosted by Water Rangers. Altogether, a total of 800 trees were planted, and any trees that weren't planted were donated to the community's Lands and Resources Department. The tree plant could not have been such a success without the problem solving and collaboration of everyone involved!

Autumn Peltiers advocacy featured in a new documentary premiering at TIFF. We can't wait!

With COVID-19 restrictions being lifted, it was essential to communicate about safety protocols with our partners at Bimose Tribal Council Inc.. We were very excited to be invited to travel to Kenora with clear social distancing and hygiene measures in place. The joy and excitement of the team to be able to meet with the interns face to face was immense. In late August, Walkerton Clean Water Centre delivered the second week of Entry-Level Course training and certification exam to the entire group. This course is one of the main certifications in the Drinking Water Internship Program, and is a requirement is obtaining a Class 1 License for water operators.

Becoming a monthly donor is a powerful way you can help make change. Committing to support our work each month helps Water First plan into the future. Together with our community partners, your support allows us to train more young Indigenous adults. Join us in solving critical water challenges together. Click here to #BecomeAMonthlyDonor: https://waterfirst.ngo/donate/

Over the month of September, PickWaste will be supporting Water First through a Water Sustainability Campaign. The community clean-up initiative involves spreading awareness about pollution while picking garbage and litter. PickWaste, a youth-led community initiative, empowers individuals to make a change in society.... Participants are able to make donations dependent on the number of bags of garbage collected. 100% of the proceeds will be going to Water First! Thank you!

Were thrilled to be part of this year's National Gathering for Indigenous Education, hosted by Indspire on November 26 and 27. The National Gathering is a place where educators and partners can share their voices and work together to improve the educational outcomes of K-12 Indigenous students. This year's event will be hosted online, with eight workshops over two days, a keynote address by the amazing Tanya Talaga, and an opportunity to network and share best practices with... Indigenous educators across the country. Dillon Koopmans and Adrianna Bilinski, our incredible Educational Programs Manager and Indigenous School Engagement Coordinator, respectively, will be leading a workshop on Project-Based Learning and Community Engagement in Environmental Science. To find out more and to reserve your spot, click here: https://indspire.ca/events/national-gathering/

Not long until well be seeing colours like these again. Shown here are photos from last fall while visiting Long Point First Nation in preparation for an upcoming restoration project.

This beautiful video was made by McKaylii Jawbone from Tamisgaming, Quebec, a member of Kebaowek First Nation. McKaylii is an alumni from a 2-year restoration project in partnership with Kebaowek First Nation. Three large walleye spawning shoals were constructed at restoration sites identified in consultation with community elders, restoration biologists and Water First staff. We would like to extend a huge thank you to MaKaylii and to the community for their support throughout the project, and for for the dedication and hard work to make this such a successful fish habitat restoration project. Click here to watch the full 5-minute video on our website: https://bit.ly/31IVU6l

Support for our work comes in many different forms, and were very appreciative of them all. Whether through monthly donations, a school fundraiser, a portion of proceedseven liking and sharing our posts helps to spread the word. Without support from all of you, Water First wouldn't be able to reach communities across Canada to collaborate on clean water projects. Thank you so much! #FanFriday

Our Environmental Programs Manager, Dillon Koopmans, recently joined an online Q&A with Shake Up The Establishment. The Shakers & Movers Program is a virtual youth climate action program that brought 30 youth from across the country together to discuss topics such as climate justice, environmental racism and climate action. The mentor sessions (which Dillon was part of) was an opportunity to meet with different organizations and individuals to hear their stories, and to gain ...inspiration and insight on areas of interest for the participants. The recorded video is not publicly available, but a few stills are shown here. Shake Up The Establishment is a youth-led non-profit organization that focuses on promoting climate justice, through awareness campaigns and scientifically-informed educational resource creation, in a non-partisan manner. Click here to head to their website and to stay in the loop on future programs and news: https://bit.ly/31pIOLl

The Drinking Water Internship Program on Manitoulin Island: The photos here show interns from our first Internship Program, a collaboration with United Chiefs and Councils of Mnidoo Mnising, learning a variety of data collection and interpretation methods. The internship provides training in the classroom, at local water treatment facilities, and shown here: out on the land. Interns learned how to measure the flow of a stream, how to sample soil and water at various depths (in a stream or lake), collecting benthic samples, and how to fill their field sheets. Learn more: waterfirst.ngo/what-we-do/drinking-water/

In late July, Mindful Movement Centre supported our work by donating proceeds from multiple days of PWYC yoga and pilates classes. Thank you so much, Leslie and the Mindful Movement Centre team for believing in and supporting our work!

This Sunday, August 23rd, Zach Stabb (https://bit.ly/3g922ci) will be taking off on a 7-day, 603km ride from Montreal to Toronto to raise funds and awareness for the water challenges faced by Indigenous communities in Canada. His fundraising expedition is in support of our Drinking Water Internship Program, a 15-month paid program for young Indigenous adults, with over 2,000 hours of training in the classroom, at local water treatment facilities, and out on the land. Graduates of the program then use their knowledge, skills and credentials to support their communities, providing safe and clean drinking water for future generations. We're so grateful for Zach's support and can't wait for updates along the way. Follow along, and if you're able to, click here to donate to the cause: https://bit.ly/34c4sEC

While on Christian Island for a Youth Education program with Beausoleil First Nation, we were joined by a guest speaker from the community, a water walker. In Water Walks or other ceremonies, it is believed that the water is listening and will tell the rest of the water about the good intentions expressed in the ceremony. This makes what is said and done more intentional, thus making it a more spiritual action. Prior to our programming with students from Beausoleil First Nati...on, we filled a copper pot with water, which was later returned to the bay, clean, purified (thanks to its natural antimicrobial nature) and full of good, true intentions. Many Indigenous communities believe water is alive, and that we need to respect water for keeping us and everything else alive. For centuries, many Indigenous people have known about the natural purifying effect of a copper pot and have used it as a safe place for water to receive and understand the respect being given during ceremonies and special events.

As part of a collaborative environmental project with Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach - , we helped interns conduct a food survey to estimate how much fish is being consumed by the community and where it is coming from. The food surveys are a key component in the training received by the 3 interns that were hired for this project - Lawrence Mameanskum, Wayne Nattawappio, and Kabimbetas Mokoush. The data is used to compliment the mercury and heavy metal sa...mpling program, to provide a more comprehensive picture of the status of the fish in the lakes, and to track consumption of fish by community members at various age groups. We began helping to conduct the surveys earlier this year and are now looking into the results of the surveys and conducting data analysis. The first photo shows Lawrence with his grandfather, and elder and fisherman.

A big thank you to NORTHIES for their support of our work. For the month of August, all profits from the sale of their MEND tees will be donated to supporting our work. Each month, Northies donates 100% of profits generated by the sale of this shirt to fighting injustice and inequality, and to assist those making a difference in communities far and wide. Were very grateful for for the support this month! #FanFriday

This #InternationalYouthDay, we would like to give a huge thank you to students and communities weve collaborated with through our Youth Ed programs. Although there are many incredible projects to highlight, a current (though now postponed) project we would like to acknowledge today is a school-aged youth education pilot project, Growing Roots. This specific Growing Roots initiative is a partnership with Beausoleil First Nation. We worked with Christian Island Elementary Sch...ool to deliver both indoor and outdoor water science workshops to every class, where students engaged in STEM-based learning activities such as biodiversity, while observing local aquatic wildlife and plants. Students then surveyed the land to see what could be done to minimize flooding in the schoolyard, and to control runoff and other environmental considerations. Its a pleasure to collaborate with communities like Beausoleil First Nation on projects such as this, and we look forward to resuming our efforts in a safe manner soon. Click here to find out more: https://bit.ly/3araOkI Happy #InternationalYouth

A few weeks ago, our communications team met to discuss our communications strategy and the importance of accurate, current and respectful language when communicating our work. "When we talk about our work with Indigenous Peoples in Canada, the language we use is important. Whether it is found in the Indian Act, our school textbooks, or on social media, there is no shortage of incorrect language when speaking about Indigenous Peoples in Canada. At its worst, aside from being ...inaccurate, using the wrong words can be inconsiderate, disrespectful or offensive. We aspire to ensure all Water First staff are educated in the most accurate, up-to-date, inclusive and respectful language when speaking about our work in Indigenous communities. We also aspire to be an example for other organizations wanting to do the same." - Dillon Koopmans, Educational Programs Manager

Is your business or organization interested in addressing clean water solutions? With your help, we are partnering with Indigenous communities to address local water challenges through education and hands-on training. We work closely with many organizations to match the interests to our programs and ensure that supporters who want to contribute to our work are engaged in a meaningful way. Consider supporting Water First through a portion of sales, providing customers with th...e option to donate or highlighting our work through a special campaign. We value partnering with like-minded organizations that care about clean drinking water, restoring the health of waterways, and inspiring Indigenous youth as the next generation of water stewards in First Nations communities. Have an idea? Let us know! Click here to find more ways to support our work: https://bit.ly/301miHT

An Update from our Internship Program with Bimose Tribal Council: Nathan Copenace is from Washagamis Bay First Nation in Northwestern Ontario and is currently working at the water treatment plant there. His experience with the program so far has been great; learning a lot of new things, like water source protection and everything that goes with it. Here is what Nathan has to say about the Drinking Water Internship. To learn more, click here: https://bit.ly/2CftM0x

A big thank you to Aeryn Pfaff and Backdoor for your support through Canada-Wide Pride, an incredible online pride party this past June. Through Zoom parties and virtual DJ sets, Canada-Wide Pride celebrated sexuality and self-expression while also raising funds for Water First and Black Lives Matter - Toronto. We are so grateful for the support in addressing water challenges in Indigenous communities in Canada. Thank you so much! #FanFriday

Around this time last year, Water First and Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach - , located in northern Quebec near the border of Labrador, collaborated on a new, 3-year environmental project that includes 2 initiatives: The first is a contaminant study to establish baseline mercury and heavy metals concentrations in the soil, water, and traditionally harvested fish. The second is a community-based fish habitat restoration and education project to enhance fi...ve brook trout spawning sites on the shoreline of Little Barry Lake in the Caniapiscau River watershed. The sites were chosen through consultation with community elders, a restoration biologist, and Water First staff. Three local young adults were hired as interns for the project Lawrence Mameanskum, Wayne Nattawappio, and Kabimbetas Mokoush and have so far received hands-on training for water quality analysis, fish & soil sampling, fish biology, fish population assessment, and fish habitat restoration. We have postponed all community visits until there is a safe time to resume our efforts. We are working on ways to adapt and to continue delivering our programs, and we're looking forward to resuming our work with Naskapi Nation. Photos: Ryan Osman, Water Resources Specialist

60 Seconds as a Water First Intern: Through our Drinking Water Internship Program, Indigenous young adults complete over 2,000 hours of hands-on training, pairing western science with traditional knowledge on a journey to become certified water treatment plant operators. Graduates of the program then use their knowledge, skills and credentials to support their communities, providing safe and clean drinking water for future generations.... For more information on the Drinking Water Internship Program, click here: https://bit.ly/2CftM0x

We partner with Indigenous communities to build capacity locally, collaborating to address both drinking water and environmental water concerns. And we have seen the impact: real, long-term solutions that increase knowledge and skills, benefiting both individuals and communities. If you're looking for a fun way to show your support for Water First, setting up a fundraiser can be pretty easy thanks to CanadaHelps! Whether youre bringing people together to honour a loved one, collecting from your fellow book club members, or taking on a personal challenge you can take part in helping Indigenous communities access safe, clean water. We recently updated our information on how to fundraise for Water First to make the process even simpler. Take a look at our fundraising page to find out how you can get started today: https://bit.ly/31gSAOH

Zach Stabb is from Chateauguay, Quebec, a city of about 50,000 people on the south shore of Montreal. With a growing concern for local water issues and a love for biking, Zach has decided to bike the 603 kilometre stretch from Montreal to Toronto to support our work as a fundraiser and to help raise awareness for the water challenges Indigenous communities in Canada face. Stay tuned for when Zach takes off on his ride along the St. Lawrence River in early August. To follow his journey and to support this project, head to his Instagram profile (https://bit.ly/3hMbpjk). Were excited for Zach to take on this challenge, and grateful for his passionate support for our work. Way to go, Zach! #FanFriday

Through the conversations weve had with our First Nations Advisory Council, were learning about the most effective ways to engage Indigenous youth and to engage that community. Were learning how to help strengthen relationships between community members and youth in order to gain important local knowledge that can assist them in their idea generation, their project development, and in creating watershed initiatives that meet the needs of their community. With the Youth Edu...cation department, the Advisory Council welcomes a number of school administrators, Indigenous community members and Elders, and together we have these helpful conversations that help to steer the development of our programs to ensure their success. Schools appreciate us spending more time in communities in order to have stronger relationships and more meaningful collaborations, and they appreciate us inviting local community members in to share their knowledge and to be part of the conversation, especially when its about developing watershed restoration projects. For that reason, its especially important that were speaking with our FNAC members on a very regular basis, to make sure that our programs have the intended results were hoping for. #WaterFirst

Our community has been steadily growing in recent months, and were so grateful for the interest in our work. In numerous First Nation communities across Canada, the tap water is not safe to drink: the water crisis in Indigenous communities is unacceptable. To help address local water challenges in First Nations communities, we rely on support from folks like you you are the glue that holds our work together. Were thankful for support of all types, because every contribution helps us work toward our goal of addressing these water challenges. Donations can be allocated to specific projects, or simply to our greatest need at the time. To find out more on how to support our work in whichever way works for you, click here: https://waterfirst.ngo/what-you-can-do/

Are you an Indigenous/First Nations/Inuit/Métis entrepreneur in Canada and want the pitch your business idea? The deadline to submit your one-minute video pitch is this Friday, for a chance to win up to $10,000 to support your work. Visit powwowpitch.org for more info. To provide a safe, supportive, collaborative, empowering and culturally supportive environment that addresses the unique challenges of Indigenous entrepreneurs and aspiring Indigenous entrepreneurs. To enhance, develop and accelerate growth for current and aspiring Indigenous entrepreneurs in a sustainable way through programs and resources.