Wade in! All the news from the Water First Environmental Water Program
Fall 2025
These waters run deep.
These past few months have been an exciting and busy time for the Water First team! As we embrace fall, we’re celebrating the many successes of the past few months, and preparing for a busy and fulfilling season ahead. Thank you for supporting Water First, and the important work happening through the Environmental Water Program!
Environmental Water Program Statistics
40
In-community projects completed
93
Workshops delivered
22
Certifications earned during the first EW Internship
13,055
Hours of training completed during the first EW Internship
🎓 The first EW Interns graduate!
Congratulations to the very first graduating class of the Environmental Water Internship (EWI)! The 15-month program, in partnership with Mamaweswen, The North Shore Tribal Council, led interns through 2,000 hours of skills and technical training both in the classroom and on the land.
Alexandra Nolan, a participant from Garden River First Nation, said, “One of my favourite things about the internship was being with other people striving for climate change solutions and working together to solve environmental challenges while still having opportunities to incorporate the teachings passed down through generations into my work.” Graduates are now certified in three areas that can lead to jobs in local lands and resources offices and throughout the environmental sector.
🫱🏻🫲🏽 EWI Alumni Network has been launched
Now that the first participants of the Environmental Water Internship (EWI) have graduated, they are invited to become part of the brand new Water First Alumni Network. By joining, each graduate will have access to a network of post-internship support; the opportunity to connect with other past interns, and a central location where they can find information related to their industry and career, including mentorship opportunities, job boards, and further certification opportunities.
Great job, Class of ‘25!
✅ The EWI is now ECO Canada certified
After a full audit, the Environmental Careers Organization of Canada (ECO Canada) has accredited the EWI through their Environmental Training Course Certification process. ECO Canada provides Professional designations to validate individuals’ skills and knowledge as leaders in the environmental sector. Graduates will receive three certifications that can be added to their professional resumes and recognized by prospective employers:
Water Quality
Environmental Data
Fish Conservation
Graduates will also receive the ECO Canada seal for completion of the entire program, including an Independent Monitoring Project. This is a really exciting step forward for the Environmental Water Internship and its participants!
💪🏼 Who run the world?
Water First team members recently had the opportunity to travel to Winnipeg and Edmonton to facilitate two water science workshops organized by the Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) and hosted by Provincial Territorial Member Associations, Manitoba Moon Voices and Esquao Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women. Part of the NWAC’s Water Carriers Project, Water First’s all-women team was grateful to be invited to NWAC to share knowledge, experiences, and camaraderie with the very engaged participants. The workshops marked the first community-based projects to take place west of Ontario!
👀 Looking ahead
Ice may be starting to form on the waterways, but that isn’t slowing our team down! We are planning for a busy spring, with community-based projects filling the calendar and the next EWI on the horizon! Be sure to stay connected and up-to-date on all the exciting work Water First is doing through these bi-annual updates and our quarterly newsletters – and be sure to follow along on social media!
None of this would be possible without the generosity of donors like you. Your support ensures that students across the country can connect with water science in meaningful, transformative ways, helping to inspire the next generation of water protectors. Thank you for making this work possible – we’re excited to share more of this journey with you in the year ahead.
Thank you for joining us throughout another year of successes and milestones.
Your donations make this vital work possible, and we are deeply grateful for your commitment to fostering environmental education and stewardship in Indigenous communities.
By giving today or becoming a monthly donor, you can help ensure that these projects and partnerships continue!
