Our Mission

BUILDING CAPACITY AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL FOR THE CARE AND CONTROL OF WATER ON RESERVE.

Our objectives are:

• Provide an opportunity for education, training, networking and skills enhancement to the staff involved in the day-to-day operation and maintenance of water and wastewater systems.

• Create a professional network for all those involved in drinking water and/or wastewater.

• Establish formal First Nation water and wastewater certification programs.

• Establish a formal environmental control facilities classification system (database).

• Initiate affiliations with professional organizations to ensure consistency in certification and classification.

• Support operators and water staff to achieve regulatory compliance.

• Work with university, and other, researchers to investigate industry innovations and best practices for drinking water and wastewater.

• Promote health and safety in the workplace.

• Hold Annual General Meetings and sponsor various conferences and workshops.

Membership

Regular members - Certified and employed operator

- Voting rights

- Can be elected or appointed to the board (or a committee)

- May run for office in the Association.

Associate members - Have an interest in water/wastewater in Saskatchewan First Nations.

- Associate Agency Member - has an interest in the field (EHO, water monitor/technician)

- Associate Supplier Member - company or person that supplies goods and services to the water/wastewater industry

Associate members can be appointed to the board or a committee and can be granted voting privileges.

Board of Directors

Ira Aisaican - Interim President

Email: president@sfnwa.ca

Ira is a certified level 2 water systems operator. He runs the reverse osmosis (RO) water treatment plant at Cowesses First Nation. He has been a water treatment plant operator since 2006.

Charmaine Standingready - Treasurer

Email: treasurer@sfnwa.ca

Charmaine is a certified level 1 water systems operator. She is the biological water treatment plant operator at White Bear First Nation. She has been a water treatment plant operator since 2014.

Bob Pratt - Secretary

Email: secretary@sfnwa.ca

Bob is a certified level 2 water systems operator. He runs the Sapphire Integrated Biological Reverse Osmosis Membrane (SIBROM) water treatment plant at George Gordon First Nation. He has been a water systems operator at George Gordon First Nation since 1988.

Rowena Fourhorns

Email: rowenafourhorns@sfnwa.ca

Rowena is a certified level 2 water systems operator. She runs the RO water treatment plants at Piapot First Nation and Carry the Kettle First Nation. She has been a water treatment plant operator since 1989.

Deon Hassler

Email: deonhassler@sfnwa.ca

Deon Hassler is a certified level 2 water systems operator. He works for File Hills Qu’Appelle Tribal Council as a Circuit Rider Trainer. He has been a certified water treatment plant operator since 2010.

Vernon Lewis

Email: vernonlewis@sfnwa.ca

Vernon is the water systems operator at Onion Lake First Nation.

Peter McArthur

Email: petermcarthur@sfnwa.ca

Peter is a certified level 1 water systems operator. He is the greensand water treatment plant operator at Pheasant Rump Nakota First Nation. He has run the Pheasant Rump Nakota First Nation water treatment plant since 2003.

Jamie Pacquette

Email: jamiepacquette@sfnwa.ca

Jamie is a certified level 1 water systems operator. He is the greensand water treatment plant operator at Fond du Lac First Nation. He has been a water treatment plant operator since 2005 and has run the Fond du Lac First Nation water treatment plant since 2017.