Watershed moment: Atlantic First Nations Water Authority partners with Dalhousie to deliver world‑class water treatment – Dal News
April 24, 2024
The Atlantic First Nations Water Authority (AFNWA) made history in 2018 by incorporating as the first Indigenous-owned and -led water utility in Canada. It was a significant step for First Nations in the region toward self-determination and control of the resource that is central to the health of their communities and protection of the environment.
Now, a new $4.3 million NSERC Alliance-Mitacs Accelerate Grant will support a partnership between the AFNWA and Dalhousie University to help the organization in its mission to deliver world-class drinking water and treatment guided by Indigenous knowledge and values.
The new partnership will support the AFNWA in improving the quality and sustainability of community infrastructure, strengthening safety and risk management, and engaging community members to ensure they are informed and empowered.
Underpinning the priorities of the partnership is a plan to train a new generation of Indigenous and non-Indigenous engineers and other professionals to ensure the water authority’s long-term success. This will include 20 graduate and postdoctoral research trainees, 15 undergraduate interns, and 35 First Nations high school students in Mi’kmaq and Wolastoqey communities.
