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Delivering Upstream: A Sibling of the Internship

November 17th, 2021

The Indigenous Schools Water Program (ISWP) delivers workshops and hands-on STEM experiences for school-aged youth to learn about their local watersheds and the factors that contribute to a healthy ecosystem. We have the honour of conducting these workshops in all of the communities involved in the Drinking Water Internship. We wanted to share with you how excited and engaged the students are when they are out on the land, using scientific tools and instruments and working together to translate numbers and data into discoveries about their own communities.

During 2018, ISWP visited every school on Manitoulin Island in connection to the Mnidoo Mnising Tribal Council Partnership. Currently, we have that opportunity in connection with the Internship Program with the Bimose Tribal Council Partnership. Our first workshop series coincided with the Internship graduation ceremony in the first week of October. We wanted to be there sooner, but COVID restrictions delayed us. Let me tell you, to be there in person was well worth the wait!

We were invited to Gaagagekiizik School (or Kiizhik for short) in Kenora to deliver workshops at the school in person. They suggested that all programming be delivered outside. This was an exciting challenge for us, because we have many workshops that we had only delivered indoors for convenience. Since Kenora is further North than our office, we packed our toques in anticipation of being outside all day in colder weather. To our delight, the toques were not needed as we faced 20°C, or warmer, every day, making our time outside even more memorable.

Students created miniature spawning shoals and played a game of trying to catch or eat eggs that had been placed in the miniature models in 30 seconds. The group that caught the least were the most successful in creating a safe habitat for the eggs.

Our outdoor classroom locations were straight from The Group of Seven paintings. If you’re not familiar with the Group of Seven, picture stunning landscapes surrounded by raw rock faces and windswept trees. It was a breath of fresh air for the students and for us as we learned about the watershed while sitting in the watershed itself.

We were blessed with a local water body called Rabbit Lake that was close enough to the school that we could walk. The gym teacher told us he takes students there often, so we took guidance from him. We set a timer to challenge each class to make it to the lake within 10 minutes, and all students were on board with this mission. All four classes we took to the water made it in record time.

Imagine taking a group of 15-20 students to walk through the woods to the lake to learn about water and land. Getting out on the land with the students is one of the highlights of the program. The walk helped us all appreciate the land more and engage our learning with all of our senses. Being outside also connects incredibly well to the Anishinaabemowin Language. As Water First staff, we have heard this from many community partners, but at Kiizhik School, we saw it in action. Thunder Bird, one of the culture and language teachers, joined us for every workshop during our week in Kenora. He was an amazing partner who took the time to teach not only the students, but also us, important words related to the work we were doing.

The whole gang heading to a local body of water to collect data.

As guests in a local school, ISWP likes to make sure we are respecting the local culture and practices. Sometimes this means joining in a morning assembly or smudge. Other times, we integrate cultural teachings of our own.

While we were in Kiizhik, it became clear to us that the staff and students respect the land and understand, both spiritually and mentally, that everything is connected. With this observation, we decided to bring some Semah, or tobacco, for the students to make an offering or say a prayer before we started our study on the water. This is not a practice all of the schools or communities we work with follow.

At Kiizhik, the staff was grateful to see an outside organization bring a meaningful cultural teaching to the classroom. One of the staff even took time to write their appreciation on paper for us.

During our week in Kiizhik School, it was amazing to see the teachers and students engage with the content even beyond our time with each class. The grade 3-4 teacher, Shea Cannon, asked us to come to her classroom at the end of the week to see the students’ work. Each had drawn a watershed of their own: a reflection of the workshop we did with them outside. The level of comprehension made us truly proud of the students and the work we did throughout the week. Below are some of our favourites. We are so grateful to Shea for sharing.

The entire staff at Kiizhik School was welcoming and genuinely interested in our programming. One of the high school teachers, Janae Grafham, provided lovely feedback saying, “This program was extremely valuable. All students were eager to learn and engaged in their learning. The students continued to talk about how exciting the activities were and how much they learned in the days following the activity. This hands-on opportunity was a highlight of our school year.” We are happy the students and staff liked having us because we feel the same way. We’re looking forward to our next opportunity to continue working with Kiizhik School, and all of the schools associated with the Bimose Water First Internship.

Learn more about Water First’s Indigenous Schools Water Program.

Bimose Drinking Water Internship Graduation

October 26th, 2021

The Drinking Water Internship interns have officially graduated. These interns endured 18 months of hard work and dedication, long hours of studying and working, and adapting to COVID along the way — and thrived. Members from Bimose Tribal Council, our partners, and Water First staff were there in Kenora to help the graduates mark the occasion.

The graduation ceremony started indoors, where interns were presented their certificates.

There was a calm sense of accomplishment in the room; faces full of achievement and excitement for the next step. For many, they will continue to support access to clean water in their home communities.

During his ceremony speech, Jon Kocis, HUB Water Treatment Services Manager of Bimose Tribal Council gave sound words of advice (adapted from Herbert V. Prochnow):

”If you want to leave footprints in the sands of time, you have to wear work boots.”

He continued with: “So, when you get out there on your first day — lace those boots tight, put that invisible cape on, stand tall and strong like the heroes that you are, and enjoy the journey.”

When the ceremony migrated outside, we were joined by Judy DaSilva, an Elder, activist and Environmental Health Coordinator from Grassy Narrows First Nation.

She led a water ceremony that was paired with a delicious feast of traditional foods.

We are all so incredibly proud of the graduates and excited for their next chapter. They are now newly minted members of the Water First Alumni Network, where they will continue to be supported to grow and have opportunities to support each other.

Press release: New Indigenous Water-Operators-in-Training Announced by Bimose Tribal Council and Water First

Resilient group of interns became new water treatment plant operators despite 2020 challenges

July 5th, 2021

The Water First Internship Program was featured in the May/June 2021 edition of Water Canada, a publication dedicated to covering a range of Canadian water issues. This edition of the magazine focused on topics such as communicating science in a crisis, governing the Blue Economy, and renewing water infrastructure.

Water First team members sat with members of Bimose Tribal Council’s technical services department to discuss their unique model, and the impact that the internship has had on communities. Wayne Holmstrom, overall responsible operator, Aaron Henry, operator in charge, and Adam Peacock, technical services officer, work closely together to service communities in what they call a hub model: a centralized system of support for water treatment plant operators in each of the Tribal Council’s communities. They have been working closely with our interns to train them—as well as depend on them.

Read the article here:

Extension of the Bimose Internship and Upcoming Training

April 6th, 2021

We are excited to announce that the Bimose Internship has been extended to continue through to the end of September. This extension offers interns opportunities for more training, more preparation time to challenge exams, including Wastewater Management and Level 1 Operator, and more hands-on work experience in the treatment plants. Group training sessions, tutorials, and one on one individualized sessions will continue in full to support the interns reach their professional goals.

Through the winter months and COVID restrictions, the interns have continued working on remote learning modules related to the Water Quality Analyst (WQA) training and upcoming certification exam taking place April/May.

Most First Nation communities have smaller water treatment systems than urban cities. Depending on the source of their water (lake, wells, pump house) the community has to use one, or a combination of, treatment testing protocols to achieve potable water for their community. Without a WQA certification, tests have to be sent away to a licensed lab causing delays that could affect access to safe drinking water for the community.

A WQA certificate allows interns and operators to take a leadership role in source water protection and expand on their water sampling skills. The WQA certification is especially useful in combination with their Operator in Training (OIT) certification, as operators are often faced with unique challenges that present with the types of drinking water systems that are in their communities.

Enviro Week!

October 19th, 2020

A few weeks ago in Kenora, Ontario, the interns in our Drinking Water Internship Program took part in a week-long introduction to water science in the environmental field.

After a long week of studying for the Operator in Training Exam, the interns were able to get out on the land, experiment with some hands-on activities, and experience some of the things they may do after completing the internship.

The first day involved an introduction to equipment and field sheets, as well as some time for reflections and observations. The following day the interns split into two groups to conduct a variety of activities (water quality, benthic sampling, etc.) — one group on the lake and the other in the stream.

Before being mailed out, all resource kits will be carefully prepared, while adhering to strict COVID appropriate sanitization and safety measures.

On the third day we held an adventure race, which had the interns using their GPS units to determine specific locations, followed by a tour of the Kenora Water Treatment Plant on day four.

On the final day of Enviro Week we had a water ceremony to close out the week. Judy Da Silva, Environmental Health Coordinator and activist from Grassy Narrows First Nation, joined us to lead the ceremony and conclude an amazing week.

Thank you to everyone involved in making Enviro Week such a success!

For more information on the Drinking Water Internship Program, click here.

Internship Milestones: Operator in Training Exam

October 14th, 2020

The Water First interns recently wrote their Entry Level Course and Operator in Training (OIT) exams. These exams are significant milestones in the Internship program, and passing this exam is the key step for the interns to become provincially certified as Operators in Training at a Water Treatment Plant.

To help the interns prepare for this particular exam, the Water First team travelled to Kenora to run a week-long review session with the interns. They covered challenging topics and wrote a mock exam to prepare.

Here are a few example questions that could have been on the exam:

The chlorine dosage of a town’s water source is 4.0 mg/L. The chlorine demand for the water is 3.7 mg/L. What is the chlorine residual?
Which of the following samples results would be classified as an “Adverse Result” under Ontario Regulation 170/03?

The internship program isn’t all about operating a water treatment plant. Environmental water monitoring training is included for a comprehensive skill set around water, from the watershed, to source water, and through treatment and distribution. After the big exam, the Water First team and interns spent a week diving into this training, out on the land and on the water. (More on this to come)

We are so proud of the interns and all the work they are doing in their journey to provide safe water for their communities.

Bimose Tribal Council & Water First

July 27th, 2020

The Drinking Water program continues to be a priority for many communities, especially now. Clean and safe drinking water is always critical.

There is strong community demand for our program — and with your support, the program is expanding. Last fall we launched a new internship program in partnership with the Bimose Tribal Council in northwestern Ontario. We currently have 18 young Indigenous adults, from 11 participating First Nation communities, training to become certified water plant operators.

COVID-19 has posed serious challenges to our work. Together with the Bimose Tribal Council, we have been navigating our way, from solving issues with communication access to migrating training and study resources online. The response has proven positive and the program continues to be very successful.

Update on the Drinking Water Internship In Bimose

July 7th, 2020

At the time of our last newsletter we were pivoting our Internship program to remote and interactive online programming. Now that our interns have a few months of online learning experience we have settled into a routine. Each week, the interns receive a Mission Pack. It includes the week’s lesson, reflection questions that connect the week’s lesson to the work in the plant and review questions. Then during the week there are small group, or one on one, tutorial sessions with Water First staff.

As we all know, living in isolation due to the risks of COVID-19 has its challenges. Each intern has had to navigate these challenges, while trying to balance the demands of the program in an online format. Due to COVID restrictions, some of the interns were unable to do the work placements in the water treatment plants. This was the aspect of the program that they were missing the most. We are excited to report that as of the end of June all but three of the interns are back at their work placements at their local water plant, where they are putting the theory they have been learning into practice.

Thanks to our supporters, the Internship program in Bimose is expanding. Eight new interns will be starting in July on a fast track program delivered online. Jen Atkinson, our Director of Operations, explained that during the interview process the candidates expressed a keen interest in protecting and caring for water. They are interested in helping their communities address local challenges. “I anticipate a high motivation level and I look forward to them bringing new energy into the larger group overall.”

First Nations skills-training program has partnership at heart

June 3rd, 2020

Though it’s relatively well known that many First Nations communities don’t have access to clean drinking water, the complicated reasons why – and relevant solutions – are less than obvious. The Trudeau government is working to end all long-term drinking water advisories, prevent short-term advisories from becoming long-term and improve water infrastructure for public systems on reserves by May of 2021. Meanwhile, the Environmental Stewardship Unit of the Assembly of First Nations engages in discussions with the federal government on water legislation and governance. To achieve long-lasting solutions, there are many factors to consider, including laws and regulations for drinking water, adequate construction, operation and maintenance of water systems, and technical support for communities, as explained by Chelsea Vowel in her book Indigenous Writes: A Guide to First Nations, Métis, and Inuit issues in Canada. Vowel points out that the way forward includes ensuring the “successful and safe operation of water-service facilities.”

This is why the team at Water First Education and Training has spent the past seven years collaborating with over 50 First Nations communities to collectively weave critical skills training and water science education together with existing community knowledge. The result is the co-creation of programs that hire and train locally to ensure communities retain their expertise for ongoing success. And it’s working. In our journey as a largely non-Indigenous organization, one that’s committed entirely to serving Indigenous communities, we have found that relevant solutions to water challenges emerge through a focus on listening and building long-term, mutually beneficial relationships.

Listening leads the way

Together with insights from many First Nations community partners, we have a good handle on the intricacies of how this problem has developed over such a long time-period, with some communities still without clean water after 20 years or more under a boil-water advisory. We know the issue very well – except for having lived through it first-hand ourselves. And this is vital. Although we draw on the expertise of our First Nations Advisory Council – comprising northern First Nations community members, including water treatment and environmental water specialists, community leaders and Elders – for guidance on program development and delivery, we still have our biases and blind spots. Our intentions are good, but we recognize that intentions only go so far. After making connections with First Nations communities, our work begins with travelling to meet, to discuss, to listen.

Many First Nations with drinking water challenges in Canada have identified the need for more young, qualified and local personnel to support solving water issues independently and for the longer term. Yet every community is different, with varying situations that have contributed to these challenges. Understanding what community members and leaders have to say about their priorities and goals has been the catalyst for building adaptability, trust and effective solutions.

Persevering through challenging times

Our recently launched internship program with 11 First Nations affiliated with the Bimose Tribal Council is one of those achievements. In November of 2019, we solidified our partnership to deliver a drinking water treatment and environmental water management program with 13 young Indigenous adults who are in pursuit of their Operator in Training (OIT) and Water Quality Analyst (WQA) certifications, which will launch their careers in the water industry as stewards of their communities’ health and well-being.

After making connections with First Nations communities, our work begins with travelling to meet, to discuss, to listen.

Just months later, COVID-19 poses serious challenges to our joint plans for each intern to accumulate 1,800 hours of on-the-job experience in water treatment plants, which is a requirement for them to become level-one operators. With a lot of communicating, pivoting and trust, the Bimose water internship has developed into a story of perseverance and success through collaborative listening. During the first couple of weeks of the pandemic, the Water First team heard from some First Nations communities that interns were experiencing challenges accessing the internet and some learning resources from home. So, we mailed textbooks and prepaid cell phones. Now the program is progressing in unexpected ways: interns are learning new ways of communicating virtually and program staff are developing online tutorials and team-building exercises to support important peer-to-peer interactions under these unusual and unplanned circumstances. From working on their “why” to performing online quizzes and tutorials – the agility and participation of our interns are critical indicators of a mutually beneficial relationship that is poised to yield results, despite challenging times.

Amy Waboose, from Whitefish River First Nation, is a graduate of the Water First Internship Program who works full-time at her community’s water treatment plant, ensuring the water is safe for everybody to drink. “I just want to make sure it’s healthy. It’s my community, it’s where I come from; I take pride in what I do,” said Amy. “I came in here for a job and I ended with a career.” Amy’s passion for her work is a gift for the next generation. “That’s why I’m doing it,” she said, “… for my family, for everybody here.”

Collaboration and adaptability key to success

Capacity building, done well, is a two-way street. Listening, mutual understanding and meaningful collaboration with our First Nations partners continue to be the platforms for building reciprocal relationships that result in two-way communication and learning. Co-developing effective program strategies that address long-standing water issues, while supporting opportunities for professional development, are the result. As we navigate through these uncertain times of COVID, we have found that a commitment to collaboration and adaptability, now more than ever, is a key driver of a successful partnership. We are hopeful that our interns will one day become program graduates, entering new careers right at home in their communities.

Although we’ve spent our entire careers mastering the arts and sciences in our field, what we bring to First Nations communities is only a portion of what’s on the table. By co-developing programs with those who have the strongest connections and relationships with their communities and land, we can effectively work together to create real and relevant change.

This article was originally published on CERIC’s CareerWise website and has been reprinted with permission.

Water plant operators have an essential role

April 20th, 2020

The last few weeks have been an interesting challenge. And to be honest, Water First is still navigating our new reality. We realize more than ever how our focus on building meaningful partnerships over the past 10 years truly makes a difference today.

Recently, an intern shared their pride in coming to understand the essential role that water plant operators have. Especially during their community’s response to COVID-19.

The only time people think about where their water comes from is when they can't drink it. They don't realize people are working 24 hours a day, testing daily, weekly, monthly, to make sure the water is good.

Jamie Lee Parenteau, Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation

Water First Intern

Water First would prefer to be in communities, side-by-side with our partners. But the health and well-being of Indigenous communities is our top priority. So instead, our team has been listening carefully and adapting our programs.

Water First is developing remote and interactive online programming tailored to our interns. We are working closely with each intern to understand their own personal response to the situation. This is top of mind when creating options and exploring digital solutions, especially for remote areas. In partnership with our friends at the Walkerton Clean Water Centre, our drinking water interns were shipped textbooks last week. This will allow our team to tutor interns from afar and help prepare the group for upcoming certification exams.

We are connecting with First Nations school partners, sharing learning resources like these from the National Ground Water Association. We are also supporting students, including a high school group from Lake St. Martin First Nation who are keeping the momentum going on their Water First environmental initiative. Students are creating handmade wooden signs promoting sustainability. As well as planning for gardens in their community, which was recently relocated. As our partners determine plans for the rest of the school year, we will continue to adapt our programming and support.

As always, our focus will remain on pursuing lasting results and inspiring a passion for clean water.

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