Water First Education & Training Inc. (Water First) and First Peoples Development Inc. (FPDI) are proud to announce the launch of a water treatment plant operator training program in conjunction with eight First Nations communities in Manitoba.
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Education → announce → Manitoba
The program will see Indigenous adults participate in the 15-month Drinking Water Internship Program to pursue valuable provincial certifications, which help trainees begin their careers in the water field.
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trainees → see → field
As a development and employment organization, FPDI works with Indigenous communities across Manitoba to organize specialized training opportunities.
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FPDI → work → opportunities
This kind of collaboration means that FPDI can work as a centralized facilitator for individual communities, unaffiliated communities, or those seeking to build additional capacity.
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FPDI → mean → capacity
This move supports Water First’s commitment to help develop these critical projects across the country.
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move → support → country
The internship will launch October 5, 2026.
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internship → launch → ?
Joan Harris-Warren, Executive Director of FPDI, says, “We’re excited to partner with Water First to bring this program to First Peoples Development Inc. partner communities.
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We → say → communities
Specialized training opportunities like this provide valuable benefits to individuals while strengthening the communities they call home and supporting future planning needs.”
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they → provide → needs
Walter Spence, Water First Graduate, conducts water monitoring in the field during his Water First internship training.
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Spence → conduct → training
Walter Spence graduated from the program in 2025, and now works as Assistant Director of Public Works in Peguis First Nation.
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Spence → graduate → Nation
He had this to say about the launch of the most recent internship: “As a graduate of this program, I know the benefits that it brings to a community.
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it → have → community
The internship gave me the skills and confidence I needed to handle anything that comes my way on the job, and I know that the training this group is going to get with Water First will give them the same things.”
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group → give → things
During the program, each intern will accumulate 2,000 hours of on-the-job experience with Water First trainers, as well as in their home community water and/or wastewater treatment plants, which is a part of the certification process.
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which → accumulate → process
With training tailored to meet the requirements for water operators in Manitoba, interns will pursue certification as small drinking water and small wastewater operators as well as Class 1 water treatment.
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interns → tailor → operators
Interns also round out their training with additional workshops in water quality analysis, introduction to environmental water sampling, introduction to mapping and Geographic Information Systems, as well as career readiness training.
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Interns → round → mapping
“The partnership with FPDI represents the culmination of a lot of hard work, a lot of passion, and a lot of exciting collaboration,” said John Millar, Executive Director and Founder of Water First.
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Millar → represent → First
“But the real hard work is still to come, as we hand things off to the participants and the trainers to begin the internship.
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we → come → internship
We’re so impressed by this group already, and we can’t wait to see what they accomplish in the next year and a half.”
Water First Graduate working at their local water treatment plant.
These trainings can lead to work in drinking water treatment, wastewater and environmental water careers.
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trainings → ’re → careers
The Internship also encourages increased participation of women in the water sciences and offers wrap-around supports to reduce barriers to participation, including childcare services and transportation.
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Internship → encourage → services
Graduates of the program become part of the Water First Alumni Network, with access to continuing career development and education opportunities, as well as an ever-expanding professional network.
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Graduates → become → development
“My advice for this group,” says Spence, “is to take full advantage of the opportunity, lean on each other and the trainers for support – and have fun.”
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Spence → say → fun
Sustainable access to safe, clean water in Indigenous communities in Canada continues to be a critical issue.
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access → continue → Canada
Across the country, 21% of First Nations are affected by a drinking water advisory.
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% → affect → advisory
Communities may face issues relating to infrastructure, source water quality, or people to manage water systems – or more than one of these issues at a time.
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Communities → face → time
Water First works with Indigenous communities that have identified education and training as part of their solution to the water crisis.
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that → work → crisis
Safe water needs skilled people.
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water → need → people
Interns learn to use water quality monitoring equipment under the guidance of Water First trainers.
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Interns → learn → trainers
Says Harris-Warren, “There has been tremendous enthusiasm for the program, and we can’t wait to see how these interns grow, learn, and contribute over the next 15 months.
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interns → say → months
We’re looking forward to supporting their journey and seeing the positive impact they make in their communities.
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they → look → communities
The eight communities participating in the FPDI Internship are:
Birdtail Sioux First Nation
Ebb & Flow First Nation
Keeseekoowenin Ojibway
Plain First Nation
Rolling River First Nation
Roseau River First Nation
Swan Lake First Nation
Waywawyseecappo First Nation
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communities → participate → Nation
This marks Water First’s eleventh Internship Program.
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This → mark → Program
To date, over 78 Indigenous adults have graduated from Internship programs and logged more than 200,000 hours working in local water treatment plants, Lands and Resources offices, and attending workshops.
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adults → graduate → workshops
This Internship is funded through the generous support of Water First donors, FPDI, and by Indigenous Services Canada and Indigenous Skills and Employment Training.
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Internship → fund → Canada
The collaboration will support the training of future water operators and increase local, technical capacity and autonomy in the water management field for today and for generations to come.
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collaboration → support → generations
About First Peoples Development Inc. (FPDI):
Incorporated in 2006, FPDI is a non-profit organization that facilitates partnerships designed to develop and deliver training-to-employment programs to meet labor market needs internal and external to twenty-eight Manitoba First Nation communities.
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that → incorporate → communities
About Water First Education & Training Inc. (Water First):
Water First is a registered Canadian charity that works alongside Indigenous communities to address water challenges through education, training, and meaningful collaboration.
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that → work → education
Since 2009, Water First has collaborated with over 100 Indigenous communities located in the lands now known as Canada while supporting Indigenous youth and young adults to pursue careers in water science.
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youth → collaborate → science
Photos accompanying this announcement are available at
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Photos → accompany → announcement
The Aporia
