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ON CAMPUS: Loyalist student receives OCWA scholarship

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What will the world be like seven generations from now? Will the water be clean and the forests plentiful?
In Indigenous communities across North America, the Seventh Generation Principle is threaded through decision-making processes. It acts as a guide to ensure energy, water and natural resources are sustainable for years to come.
This principle was at the forefront of Liz Brant’s mind when she walked into Loyalist’s Aboriginal Resource Centre (ARC) to discuss her educational options with Paul Latchford, the centre’s co-ordinator.
“I’ve always had an interest in the environment,” said Brant. “Especially when my son came into my life. It was a moment where I thought about the future and wanted to make sure my children have a safe place to live.”
In 2001, Brant was hired by the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte to collect water samples throughout Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. Wanting to increase her career options by obtaining a Class 3 certification in Water Treatment, Brant realized she needed to complete relevant post-secondary studies.
“With Paul’s help I was able to enrol in the Environmental Technician program part-time,” she said. “It’s not a program that’s generally offered part-time, but the college was able to accommodate my specific request.”
Last October, Brant received the 2016 Environmental Scholarship for Indigenous Students courtesy of the Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA). This $2,500 tuition scholarship is given to one student each year and is accompanied with an OCWA co-op placement.
Since she was a child, Brant has been told the relationship between women and water is sacred. It’s a prominent adage in Indigenous teachings.
“If you want it there for the future, you have to preserve it,” she said. “You have to take care of it. In Mohawk culture, we say women are the ones who take care of water. It just feels right. It’s something I believe.”
When the Tyendinaga Water Plant opened in October 2016, Brant became its water/waste water technician. This sparkling facility is equipped with cutting-edge equipment, such as an Aquarius unit, membrane filtration technology and a Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) unit.
“DAF is designed to remove finer particles, such as blue-green algae,” she said. “Many communities deal with this and they don’t necessarily have the facilities in place to handle this issue. We’re thankful to have it.”
The plant currently services 70 homes and facilities such as Tyendinaga Public School, the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory Police Department and the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte Community Wellbeing Centre. This large-scale project is currently in phase one and once complete will service more than 900 homes.
“Our community is vast,” said Brant. “We have over 80 kilometres of road. Implementing a water distribution system is expensive and it takes time to get going. When it’s finished, all of the hard work put into it will be worth it.”

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