certified water operators

Brian Indian of Onigaming First Nation announced as 2022 National First Nations Water Leadership Award recipient

Brian Indian of Onigaming First Nation announced as 2022 National First Nations Water Leadership Award recipient

Each year, First Nations individuals and organizations from across Canada are recognized by their peers for demonstrating leadership and outstanding dedication to the advancement of clean and safe drinking water in First Nations communities through the National First Nations Water Leadership Award. Today, Indigenous Services Canada is pleased to announce that Brian Indian of Ojibways of Onigaming First Nation is the recipient of the 2022 National First Nations Water Leadership Award. Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services, spoke with the recipient earlier this week to deliver the exciting news and learn more about his experience as a water operator.

‘In our culture, water is so much more. It’s sacred.’ New wave of Indigenous operators look to tackle drinking-water woes

‘In our culture, water is so much more. It’s sacred.’ New wave of Indigenous operators look to tackle drinking-water woes

Jamie Lee Parenteau knows that water is where life originates. She knows that it must be protected in every way possible from pollution or waste. The Ojibway woman’s ancestors were able to live off the water as a resource, and to sustain all living things in their care. Yet in some First Nation communities today, water has become a curse. “In our culture, water is so much more. It’s sacred,” says Parenteau, who is from the Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation. “Our people could just go to the lake for everything. That was before all these things like the (pulp) mills and mercury poisoning. Our people drink that water and got poisoned by it.” The young mother is a water protector — and she now has a licence that says so.

Ontario should stop playing 'jurisdictional ping pong' with First Nations' water crisis, says NDP MPP

Ontario should stop playing 'jurisdictional ping pong' with First Nations' water crisis, says NDP MPP

The NDP MPP for the region with the longest-running boil water advisories of any First Nations in Canada is demanding the Ontario government become part of the solution. Sol Mamakwa, who represents the riding of Kiiwetinoong in northwestern Ontario, said the provincial government could do more to help alleviate the suffering of communities on long-term drinking water advisories.