Sask. First Nations gather for water conference
People from across the province are in Saskatoon this week with the goal of ensuring safe, clean drinking water in First Nation communities.
Around 200 participants have gathered for the AGM, conference, trade show and banquet of the Saskatchewan First Nations Water Association (SFNWA).
Organizers say the chance to interact with operators on the ground has been a long time coming.
“One of the goals of this organization is to hear from the people who are on the ground,” said Rebecca Zagozewski, executive director of SFNWA. “We’re very bottom up, ground level, trying to be hearing from the membership. They’re going to drive what it is that we do.”
With water security in First Nation communities a top priority, the water plant operator’s role is elevated.
“The water plant operator on First Nations is one of the more crucial and most important jobs in the community I think,” said Ira Aisaican, vice-president of SFNWA. “They’re the first line of defense in health. If there’s a waterborne disease, the water plant operator will be the first one to know and notify the community. So they have a very important job.”
The event began Monday with some operators taking certification exams, as well as a social event including a teepee raising ceremony in the Bessborough Gardens.
Zagozewski says it’s a unique opportunity to combine technical training and knowledge with the cultural, spiritual and relational significance of water in First Nations communities.
“We’re trying to bring it all together,” Zagozewski told CTV News. “I really feel that’s the only way that you can see the full picture. You get the very detailed understanding of water and operations and management, but then you also need to have values attached to it.”
Before the afternoon sessions, a friendly competition was held with a panel of judges choosing the best water out of 20 entrants.
“We wanted to make sure that the operators have pride in the water they’re producing in their communities,” said Deon Hassler, president of SFNWA. “And making sure that the other communities understand that the operators are doing their best to produce the best, safe, healthy water in their communities. We want to make sure we bring out the pride of these operators. They’re doing an excellent job and the community’s got to see that.”
And win or lose, Aisaican says it’s great to see people competing to make their water the best for their community.
“You can’t be faulted for trying your best,” he said. “And if it’s not the best tasting water at the competition, at least we know that the interest is there, that they’re trying their best to get the best water for their community.”
The event wraps up Thursday afternoon.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
From essential goods to common stocking stuffers, Trudeau offering Canadians temporary tax relief
Canadians will soon receive a temporary tax break on several items, along with a one-time $250 rebate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday.
She thought her children just had a cough or fever. A mother shares sons' experience with walking pneumonia
A mother shares with CTVNews.ca her family's health scare as medical experts say cases of the disease and other respiratory illnesses have surged, filling up emergency departments nationwide.
Trump chooses Pam Bondi for attorney general pick after Gaetz withdraws
U.S. president-elect Donald Trump on Thursday named Pam Bondi, the former attorney general of Florida, to be U.S. attorney general just hours after his other choice, Matt Gaetz, withdrew his name from consideration.
A one-of-a-kind Royal Canadian Mint coin sells for more than $1.5M
A rare one-of-a-kind pure gold coin from the Royal Canadian Mint has sold for more than $1.5 million. The 99.99 per cent pure gold coin, named 'The Dance Screen (The Scream Too),' weighs a whopping 10 kilograms and surpassed the previous record for a coin offered at an auction in Canada.
Putin says Russia attacked Ukraine with a new missile that he claims the West can't stop
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Thursday that Moscow has tested a new intermediate-range missile in a strike on Ukraine, and he warned that it could use the weapon against countries that have allowed Kyiv to use their missiles to strike Russia.
Here's a list of items that will be GST/HST-free over the holidays
Canadians won't have to pay GST on a selection of items this holiday season, the prime minister vowed on Thursday.
Video shows octopus 'hanging on for dear life' during bomb cyclone off B.C. coast
Humans weren’t the only ones who struggled through the bomb cyclone that formed off the B.C. coast this week, bringing intense winds and choppy seas.
Taylor Swift's motorcade spotted along Toronto's Gardiner Expressway
Taylor Swift is officially back in Toronto for round two. The popstar princess's motorcade was seen driving along the Gardiner Expressway on Thursday afternoon, making its way to the downtown core ahead of night four of ‘The Eras Tour’ at the Rogers Centre.
Service Canada holding back 85K passports amid Canada Post mail strike
Approximately 85,000 new passports are being held back by Service Canada, which stopped mailing them out a week before the nationwide Canada Post strike.