Utoo Radio with Other News Sources - September 23, 2024 - Water First Education & Training Inc. has completed a 15-month program in Rama First Nation, Canada, where eight interns from Ogemawahj Tribal Council (OTC) graduated as water operators.

The program recruits Indigenous adults to the drinking water field and helps them obtain entry-level certifications required for careers in water treatment.

The program includes 1,800 hours of on-the-job experience in water treatment plants, water operator in training (OIT) certification, and additional water operator certification exams.

The program also includes environmental training like GIS and water sampling. After graduation, interns join the Water First Alumni Network to stay engaged, build local networks, and access opportunities for ongoing professional development and peer support.

The OTC Drinking Water Internship began in July 2023, the fourth completed since Water First's pilot internship in 2018.

The organization has also launched a Drinking Water Internship with Interlake Reserves Tribal Council in Manitoba and the inaugural Environmental Water Internship, which will lead interns to entry-level certification in Water Quality, Environmental Data, and Fish Conservation.

The need for trained water operators and environmental technicians continues to grow in Indigenous communities, and Water First works with Indigenous communities that have identified education and training as part of their solution to the water crisis.