Our Water, Our Future

The Healthy Watersheds Initiative is creating jobs and bringing communities together to protect fresh water, restore salmon habitat, and adapt to climate change. 
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Recent Stories

We Are of Water

"We Are of Water", illustrated by Chenoa Gao, provides visuals connected to voices and knowledge shared by Indigenous Elders, youth, and community members through HWI projects on the significance of watersheds and water.
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Unpaving Kus-Kus-Sum: Restoring and Recycling

The Kus-Kus-Sum Unpaving Paradise project is decommissioning and restoring a historic sawmill site along the Courtney River.
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Symposium & Celebration Dinner

On February 23, 2023, project team members, First Nations leaders, provincial and local government representatives, and community members came together to celebrate the outcomes and learnings from the HWI.
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$100 million invested in Watershed Security Fund to be co-developed with First Nations

The BC Government and BC First Nations Water Table has announced an investment of $100 million towards creating a Watershed Security Fund and a commitment to co-developing the Fund with First Nations.
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60+
projects
700+
jobs
$27M
investment
270+
community partners
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Supported Projects

Monitoring in the water (Photo: Tŝilhqot’in National Government)
Tŝilhqot’in Nation-led Water Quality and Quantity Monitoring Program
Lead Organization
Tŝilhqot’in National Government
Grant Amount
$ 350,000.00
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Project Details
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Monitoring in the water (Photo: Tŝilhqot’in National Government)
Description

Tŝilhqot’in National Government is increasing First Nations' water management and analysis capacity by implementing a new data management portal to centralize, analyze, and share up-to-date water quality and quantity data. Hydrometric stations will be repaired and new ones installed to expand monitoring data collection. This project, which supports 17 jobs, aims to equip First Nations decision-makers with the information needed to prioritize projects related to ecological and forestry recovery, climate change resilience, and flood and drought mitigation. (Photo: Tŝilhqot’in National Government)

Brochure: Tŝilhqot'in National Government: Water Quality & Quantity Monitoring Program

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(Photo: Picture BC / Flickr)
Koh-Learning in our Watershed: Transforming Education; Connecting Students to Communities and Waterways
Lead Organization
School District 91 (Nechako Lakes)
Grant Amount
$ 50,000.00
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Project Details
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(Photo: Picture BC / Flickr)
Description

School District No. 91 (Nechako Lakes) is expanding its experiential summer conservation employment program between UNBC and Ft. St. James Secondary School to employ and train two students in a range of salmon conservation, restoration, and monitoring initiatives being led by the Upper Fraser Fisheries Conservation Alliance, Nechako Environment and Water Stewardship Society, Mid and Upper-Fraser Salmon Conservation Collaborative, and BC Parks. The students will participate in short-term work at multiple sites in the Nechako Watershed, including Nahounli Creek, and will assist with establishing at least one long-term ecological monitoring project in Mt. Pope Provincial Park. This project supports four jobs. (Photo: Picture BC / Flickr)

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snow melt in Syilx territory
Okanagan Lake Responsibility Planning Initiative and Restoration Project
Lead Organization
Okanagan Nation Alliance
Grant Amount
$ 50000.00
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Project Details
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snow melt in Syilx territory
Description

Okanagan Nation Alliance is partnering with the Okanagan Collaborative Conservation Program and the South Okanagan Conservation Program to develop an Okanagan Lake Responsibility Strategy using the nʕawqnwixʷ methodology, a consensus-based decision-making process that prioritizes the participation of Syilx Traditional Ecological and Cultural Knowledge keepers. This project, which supports one job, will engage local stakeholders to identify key issues affecting the security of the watershed and outline direct actions and solutions needed for its protection. (Photo: Okanagan Nation Alliance)

Lead Organization
Okanagan Nation Alliance
Grant Amount
$ 50000.00
Project Type
Organization Type
Region(s)View map of BC's Natural Resource District.

View map of BC's Natural Resource District.

Watershed(s)
Related Articles
Project type - Indigenous Partnerships
First Nations-led Water Monitoring in the Nechako Watershed
Lead Organization
Upper Fraser Fisheries Conservation Alliance
Grant Amount
$ 250,000.00
View Details
Project Details
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Project type - Indigenous Partnerships
Description

Upper Fraser Fisheries Conservation Alliance, in partnership with Carrier Sekani First Nations, will develop, implement, and manage a First Nations-staffed water monitoring and data management system. Once operational, the system will be used to centralize, analyze, and share up-to-date water monitoring data collected on the Endako River to support informed decision-making. This project supports 18 jobs.

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