Four Rivers Environmental Services Group of Matawa Co-Lead Water Stewardship Research Project
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THUNDER BAY, ON – Four Rivers Environmental Services Group (Four Rivers) today, announced they will be
working with the Matawa member First Nations on a national watershed research project as part of a first step in
increasing capacity to actively steward over 300,000 square kilometres of watersheds within their traditional
homelands (see map in Figure 1 and attached). These watersheds have been mostly untouched by development. In
addition, no conservation authorities or watershed management plans are in place for the vast majority of the area.
The Matawa Water Futures project (MWF) is a collaborative research project co-led by Four Rivers and Wilfrid
Laurier University that seeks to increase capacity to maintain the safety of the water in the face of climate change
and potential industrial development. A network of researchers including those from Lakehead and Laurentian
Universities will also be supporting the project.
The MWF is part of six new co-led projects across Canada launched by Global Water Futures (GWF), the world’s
largest university-led freshwater research program that is currently working to address urgent and growing water
quality issues for Indigenous communities. GWF’s overarching goal is to deliver risk management solutions—
informed by leading-edge water science and supported by innovative decision-making tools—to manage water
futures in Canada and other cold regions where global warming is changing landscapes, ecosystems, and the water
environment.
“Since time immemorial, the Matawa member First Nations have taken care of the watersheds within their
traditional territories and ancestral homelands. Until now, there has not been an opportunity for Indigenous peoples and western science to take a step back together to look at how watersheds can be protected through a model that places the values, priorities and Traditional Knowledge of Indigenous peoples at the forefront.” Sarah Cockerton, Manager Environmental Programs – Four Rivers, Matawa First Nations Management
The MWF project will be supported through GWF funding over three years, and will be carried out alongside other
Four Rivers environmental initiatives including Climate Change Adaptation Projects, Indigenous Guardians Projects
and Species at Risk Initiatives that are supported by the Government of Canada. It will result in a cultural framework
for watershed monitoring and stewardship that is developed by the Matawa member First Nations, which puts their
communities’ priorities, concerns and visions for the future at the forefront. The project includes other capacity
building initiatives, including water stories mapping, water gatherings, and a watershed stewardship training
certificate program. It is planned to conclude in 2021.
“Matawa Waters Futures brings together Elders and community members with scientists from Laurier,
Lakehead, and Laurentian universities to co-create community led water research projects. With a strong
commitment to Elder knowledge and community capacity building, this Matawa led, Indigenous informed, water science program has regional and national potential to decolonize water science supporting Indigenous Peoples in maintaining their traditional role in water stewardship.” Terry Mitchell, Professor; Director, Indigenous Rights and Resource Governance Research Group; Faculty at the
Balsillie School of International Affairs – Laurier University
Last month, Four Rivers hosted an Environment Gathering with over 60 delegates attending from across the region.
At the gathering, Matawa member First Nation Elders, lands and resources staff, environmental monitors,
community communication staff and other interested members began the conversation on watershed stewardship
and community-based water monitoring, and their vision for the future. The MWF project is part of Matawa First
Nations Management’s nation building process returning to the governance and continued protection of the water.
It will include protocols for the documentation and safeguarding of Traditional Knowledge.
