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Water First

Video Library

Keep up to date with our programming activities.

2023 Fall Virtual Event

Safe Water Needs Skilled People

The full recording of Water First’s 2023 Safe Water Needs Skilled People event.

00:00 – Welcome
1:49 – Introduction
8:31 – About Water First
9:30 – Dillon Koopmans, Host
18:53 – Dr. Jeannette Corbiere Lavell, C.M., IAC Member
37:46 – Spencer Welling, Water First Graduate
46:33 – Melodie Squires, Water First Graduate
54:34 – Live Q+A
1:18:30 – Thank You

Speakers

Jeannette Corbiere Lavell
Dr. Jeannette Corbiere Lavell, CM
Educator, Activist and Member of Water First's Indigenous Advisory Council

Dr. Jeannette Corbiere Lavell, an Anishinaabe community worker, has dedicated decades to empowering Indigenous women in Canada through her leadership in organizations like the Ontario Native Women’s Association and the Native Women’s Association of Canada, earning her the Order of Canada in 2018.

Spencer Welling
Spencer Welling
Drinking Water Internship Graduate

Spencer's commitment to the Internship Program is driven by a belief in Water First's mission and a passion to address water challenges in their community. He is currently the Operator in Training in Magnetewan First Nation and aspires to provide long-term support to their family and community.

melodie jackpine
Melodie Squires
Drinking Water Internship Graduate

Melodie is a mother, a daughter, an auntie and a friend from Serpent River First Nation. She graduated from Water First's drinking water internship this September and has successfully achieved her Class 1 Water Operator license. She excelled at passing the rigorous Water Quality Analyst Exam and has participated over 200 hours of water operator training outside of the internship.

Dillon Koopmans
Dillon Koopmans
Senior Manager, Education, Water First

Dillon, an Ontario Certified Teacher of Potawatomi descent with dual Bachelor's degrees in geography and education, has extensive experience delivering STEM workshops, watershed projects, and land-based education in FNMI communities across Ontario, Manitoba, Quebec, and 85 Indigenous communities.

2023 Fall Virtual Event Highlights

Safe Water Needs Skilled People

Highlights from Water First’s 2023 Safe Water Needs Skilled People event.

0:00 – Welcome
0:09 – Introduction Video
2:58 – About Water First
5:46 – Dr. Jeannette Corbiere Lavell, C.M., IAC Member
10:48 – Spencer Welling, Water First Graduate
13:08 – Melodie Squires, Water First Graduate
16:51 – Live Q+A
24:30 – Thank You

Speakers

Jeannette Corbiere Lavell
Dr. Jeannette Corbiere Lavell, CM
Educator, Activist and Member of Water First's Indigenous Advisory Council

Dr. Jeannette Corbiere Lavell, an Anishinaabe community worker, has dedicated decades to empowering Indigenous women in Canada through her leadership in organizations like the Ontario Native Women’s Association and the Native Women’s Association of Canada, earning her the Order of Canada in 2018.

Spencer Welling
Spencer Welling
Drinking Water Internship Graduate

Spencer's commitment to the Internship Program is driven by a belief in Water First's mission and a passion to address water challenges in their community. He is currently the Operator in Training in Magnetewan First Nation and aspires to provide long-term support to their family and community.

melodie jackpine
Melodie Squires
Drinking Water Internship Graduate

Melodie is a mother, a daughter, an auntie and a friend from Serpent River First Nation. She graduated from Water First's drinking water internship this September and has successfully achieved her Class 1 Water Operator license. She excelled at passing the rigorous Water Quality Analyst Exam and has participated over 200 hours of water operator training outside of the internship.

Dillon Koopmans
Dillon Koopmans
Senior Manager, Education, Water First

Dillon, an Ontario Certified Teacher of Potawatomi descent with dual Bachelor's degrees in geography and education, has extensive experience delivering STEM workshops, watershed projects, and land-based education in FNMI communities across Ontario, Manitoba, Quebec, and 85 Indigenous communities.

Aiden Copegag: Schools Program Participant

Aiden Copegag: Schools Program Participant

Aiden first participated in our programming in his home community of Beausoleil First Nation in 2019, and since then has continued to participate each summer and returned again in 2023 as a teaching assistant.

Paige: A Short Film

Paige: A Short Film from Water First

Paige, a new short film from Water First and Untold Storytelling, follows the story of Paige Manitowabi, a Water Walker from Manitoulin Island. Paige learned Traditional Knowledge and teachings from her mother and coupled this with training in western science. Since graduating from the Water First Drinking Water Internship, she has used this knowledge to inspire Indigenous youth to be water protectors.

Thank you to Untold Storytelling for bringing this story to life.

Much More Than Water Event Highlights

Much More Than Water Event Highlights

Drinking Water Internship Program

Much More Than Water Event

Much More Than Water

Drinking Water Internship Program

Georgian Bay Drinking Water Internship Program Graduation Ceremony

Georgian Bay Drinking Water Internship Program Graduation Ceremony - September 2022

Drinking Water Internship Program

On September 23, 2022, community and family members, Water First staff and other supporters joined together to celebrate the next generation of Indigenous water treatment plant operators as they graduated from the Drinking Water Internship Program. This program, a partnership with Waabnoong Bemjiwang Association of First Nations, Gezhtoojig Employment & Training Anishinabek Nation and Water First, launched in June 2021 in the Georgian Bay area of Ontario.

During the 15-month internship program, each intern accumulated 1,800 hours of on-the-job experience in water treatment plants, which is a part of the water operator in training (OIT) certification process. Interns also pursued additional water operator certification exams including water quality analyst and the entry-level course for drinking water operators, as well as environmental relevant training like GIS and water sampling which can lead to work in both drinking water treatment and the environmental water field. Following graduation, interns join the Water First Alumni Network to stay engaged, build local networks and access opportunities for ongoing professional development and peer support.

Each and every one of the 14 graduates displayed incredible dedication and skill throughout the course of their internship. After weeks of hands-on instruction in treatment plants, or in the environment learning monitoring and sampling techniques, there is no doubt that these impressive young adults will do great things for their communities. Congratulations graduates!

Hunter Edison, Water First Graduate, on life post-graduation

Hunter Edison, Water First Graduate, on life post graduation

Drinking Water Internship Program

“That my people are safe, they have clean drinking water, and they can turn their tap on every morning and have water. That’s my biggest accomplishment at the end of the day; making sure that my people are safe.”

Hunter Edison is from Niisaachewan Anishinaabe Nation in Northwestern Ontario. He is a graduate of the Drinking Water Internship Program with Bimose Tribal Council and is now employed as the lead operator at his community’s water treatment plant.

Nathan Copenace, Internship Graduate, on Boil Water Advisories

Nathan Copenace, Internship Graduate, on Boil Water Advisories

Drinking Water Internship Program

What is it like to finally provide your community with clean drinking water after being on a boil water advisory for more than a decade? For Nathan Copenace from Washagamis Bay First Nation, it’s a big responsibility. “I remember not being able to drink water since I was a kid,” says Nathan. Nathan is a graduate of Water First’s Drinking Water Internship Program. After graduating, Nathan began working at the local water treatment plant. After years without clean water, Nathan is now providing clean drinking water to his community, supporting them in the long journey to trusting the water once again.

Drinking Water Graduate Speaks to Youth to Envision Future Water Science Careers

Water First Internship Graduate Eric Vautor on his experience in the program

Indigenous Schools Water Program

Since piloting the Drinking Water Internship with 7 First Nations communities of Manitoulin Island in 2018, our relationship with the communities continues and deepens as we continue to return to deliver workshops in the schools. In this video one of the graduates of that first Internship, Eric Vautour, sets the stage to fuel and inspire Indigenous youth to envision themselves in a future Water Science career.

Straight From The Source Event Highlights

Straight From The Source

Environmental Water Program

A shortened version of Water First’s Fall 2021 event, Straight From the Source. Actor and activist Nadia George hosted the event in which we heard from three panelists involved in environmental water projects with Water First.

Watch the full event here.

0:00 Introduction
0:44 Carli Lang
3:06 Atshapi Andrew
5:30 Kacie McLaren
8:19 Q&A
14:16 Outroduction

Straight From The Source Event

Straight From The Source

Environmental Water Program

Straight From The Source was a live event on November 25, 2021. Actor and activist Nadia George hosted the event highlighting the projects we’re working on and the partnerships we’re building in our environmental water programs. Panelists include Water First staff, interns, and community partners.

Thank You For Your Support

Thank you for supporting a solution that helps Indigenous communities address water challenges.

Intern Profile: Davidson Clark

Intern Profile: Davidson Clark

Davidson Clark, from Shoal Lake 39, is an intern with the Bimose Tribal Council working and training at his local water treatment plant.

Meaningful Partnerships

Meaningful Partnerships

Sue Chiblow shares her experience working with Water First

How do we support our interns to help them succeed?

Your Questions Answered: How do we support our interns to help them succeed?

Drinking Water Internship Program

How do you measure success in an internship program?

Your Questions Answered: How do you measure success in an internship program?

Drinking Water Internship Program

Restoration in Naskapi Nation

Restoring a Brook Trout Spawning Shoal in Little Barry Lake

Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach, Quebec

Environmental Water Program

Restoration in Kebaowek First Nation

Restoring Walleye Spawning Shoals

Kebaowek First Nation, Quebec

Environmental Water Program

2021 Virtual Delivery with Chimnissing

What's in Your Water

Chimnissing (Beausoleil First Nation), Ontario

Indigenous School Water Program

2021 Trip to Sheshegwaning First Nation

What's in Your Water

Sheshegwaning First Nation, Ontario

Indigenous School Water Program

What’s in Your Water

What's in Your Water Workshops

Indigenous School Water Program

The Power of Youth Event

Inspiring Future Water Scientists

Indigenous School Water Program

The Power of Youth: Inspiring Future Water Scientists was a live event on May 27, 2021. Dillon and Adrianna from our Indigenous School Water Programs explain the work they do in Indigenous communities through demonstrations, chatting with students, and answering your questions live.

Intro: (0:00)
Program Overview: (1:42)
Discussion and Questions: (4:33)
Demonstration of tools: (19:58)
Demonstration of Flocculation: (26:15)
Are you smarter than a Water First youth scientist?: (31:02)
Live Q&A: (37:08)
Contact info: (43:45)

Indigenous School Water Program's continual work was made possible in part by funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
Ontario Trillium Foundation

Environmental Water Program

Environmental Water Program

2020 Naskapi Youth Education Trip

What's in Your Water

Indigenous School Water Program

Note: The subsequent trips were canceled due to the pandemic.

Indigenous Advisory Council

Indigenous Advisory Council

Part 4: Dillon & Youth Education

As a primarily non-Indigenous organization, our First Nations Advisory Council (FNAC) members provide valuable feedback on our programs and delivery in communities.

Through a four-part video series, we are highlighting the FNAC in our member’s own words about our relationships.

World Water Day 2021

Water connects. Everything.

On #WorldWaterDay, and every day, Water First collaborates with Indigenous communities, because we believe everyone has the right to safe, clean water. It is reflected in how we work with our community partners toward sustainable solutions to local water challenges.

Raw Talk Podcast

Raw Talk Podcast

University of Toronto

What is Water First? What does Water First do?

How did Water First start?

Can you tell us more about Water First’s initiatives and programs?

What does success look like to Water First?

59 boil-water advisories despite the government's commitment. A history of water challenges.

How might someone listening help improve the disproportionate effects that water-related issues have on Indigenous communities?

2021 Water First Internship

Launch of the Georgian Bay Internship

Drinking Water Internship Program

Stronger in Partnership Event Highlights

Stronger in Partnership Event Highlights

Drinking Water Internship Program

Stronger in Partnership Event

Stronger in Partnership Event

Drinking Water Internship Program

Water First’s Drinking Water Internship Program

Water First's Drinking Water Internship Program

Indigenous School Water Program

Indigenous School Water Program

#EveryoneHasARoleToPlay: Environmental Water

#EveryoneHasARoleToPlay

Environmental Water Program

Autumn 2020 Donor Update

Autumn 2020 Donor Update

Drinking Water Internship Program

Subscribe to our quarterly newsletter to stay up to date with our programs and how we are making a real difference, one community at a time.

Alumni graduate Amy Waboose working in her community drinking water treatment plant.