National First Nations Water Leadership Award nominees and recipients
The National First Nations Water Leadership Award recognizes First Nations individuals or organizations that have demonstrated leadership and outstanding dedication to the advancement of clean and safe drinking water in First Nations communities, today and for future generations.
Call for nominations
Nominations for the 2025 National First Nations Water Leadership Award are now being accepted. Submit your nomination using the online form by May 31, 2025.
Learn more about the 2024 National First Nations Water Leadership Award recipients: Katy Thorne of Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation and the Lower Nicola Indian Band's Public Works Team
On this page
2024 recipients
, representative for the Lower Nicola Indian Band Public Works Team.
Katy Thorne
Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation, British Columbia
Utilities Operator
"No matter where you stand in your community, when it comes to safe drinking water, we all have a role to play. I encourage you to do what you can. Learn, advocate, and respect water because Water Is Life."
Josh Moore, Skyler Peterson, Cody Kovacs
Lower Nicola Indian Band, British Columbia
Public Works Team
"Safe drinking water isn't just a service we provide - it's a promise we make to every family, every child, and every citizen in our community. This recognition honors the tireless work of our entire team, the support of our community, and reminds us that when it comes to public health, excellence isn't optional - it's essential. We're proud of what we've accomplished, but even more inspired about the future we're building together. Proud to be Lower Nicola Indian Band!"
2024 nominees
There are people who, by their everyday actions, guide, influence and inspire. We call them leaders. Each individual or team listed below has been nominated for their excellence and unwavering commitment to ensuring their community has safe and clean drinking water.
Individual
- Dorene Bernard - Sipekne'katik First Nation (NS)
- John Simonson - Eel Ground First Nation (NB)
- Cecile Mark - Pakua Shipi (QC)
- Chief Lance Haymond - Kebaowek First Nation (QC)
- Davis-Bryan Dubé, Nation Atikamekw d'Opitciwan (QC)
- Jason Snowboy - Chisasibi First Nation (QC)
- Anthony Green - Shoal Lake #40 (ON)
- Cedar Redsky - Shoal Lake #40 (ON)
- Danny Bacon - Serpent River First Nation (ON)
- Judith DaSilva - Asubpeeschoseewagong First Nation (ON)
- Lili Sioui - Northwest Angle #33 First Nation (ON)
- Shawn Williams - Curve Lake First Nation (ON)
- Alexander Traverse - Lake St Martin First Nation (MB)
- Ken Mattes - West Region Tribal Council (MB)
- Robert J Spence - Tataskweyak Cree Nation (MB)
- Bill Keshane - Keeseekoose First Nation (SK)
- James Cappo - Muscowpetung First Nation (SK)
- Leroy Josie - Hatchet Lake First Nation (SK)
- Melanie Kytwayhat - Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation (SK)
- Orville Longjohn - Sturgeon Lake First Nation (SK)
- Alvin Gladue - Saddle Lake First Nation (AB)
- Chad Simon - Samson Cree Nation (AB)
- Wayne Badger - Tallcree First Nation (AB)
- Aaron Pete - Chawathil First Nation (BC)
- Joanne Charles - Semiahmoo First Nation (BC)
- Mike Ridsdale - Hagwilget First Nation Council (BC)
- Wilfred John Dennis - Huu-ay-aht First Nation (BC)
- Brenden Bekale - Tlicho (Tli?cho) People (NWT)
- Peter Zoe - Community Government of Behchoko (NWT)
- Jon Widney, Champagne Aishihik First Nation (YK)
Team
- Terry Stacey, Susan Jacobs, Colton Diabo - Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (QC)
- Colin Peters, Joshua Schram - Walpole Island First Nation (ON)
- Jayden Martin-Van Every, Kaci Van Every, Rhonda General (aka Bush), Tiffany Smith - Six Nations of the Grand River (ON)
- John Adams, Clayton Barnes, John Tate Lazore, Pat David, Keith Mitchell, Tom Oakes, Conway Thompson, Shane Francis, Craig Cree - Mohawk Council of Akwesasne (ON)
- Valarie King, Marcus Henry - The Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation (ON)
- Denise Hourd, Shannon Gladue, Lloyd Watchmaker, Jared Dioan, Kenneth Gadwa-Stone - Kehewin Cree Nation (AB)
- Nathan Miller, Jackie Mykytuik - Frog Lake First Nation (AB)
- Burton Mack, Jim Fox - Toquaht First Nation (BC
- Crystal Starr Lewis, Kevin Good - Snuneymuw & Tseshaht First Nations (BC)
- Timothy Williams, Shane West, Ernie French - Takla Lake First Nation (BC)
Dorene Bernard
Sipekne'katik First Nation, Nova Scotia
Water Walker, Water Protector
John Simonson
Eel Ground First Nation, New Brunswick
Water Operator
Cecile Mark
Pakua Shipi, Quebec
Community Based Water Monitor
Chief Lance Haymond
Kebaowek First Nation, Quebec
Water Advocate
Davis-Bryan Dubé
Nation Atikamekw d'Opitciwan, Quebec
Water Operator
Jason Snowboy
Chisasibi First Nation, Quebec
Wastewater Operator
Anthony Green
Shoal Lake #40, Ontario
Water Operator
Cedar Redsky
Shoal Lake #40, Ontario
Water Operator
Danny Bacon
Serpent River First Nation, Ontario
Water Operator
Judith DaSilva
Asubpeeschoseewagong First Nation, Ontario
Water Advocate
Lili Sioui
Northwest Angle #33 First Nation, Ontario
Water Operator
Shawn Williams
Curve Lake First Nation, Ontario
Director of Capital Development
Alexander Traverse
Lake St Martin First Nation, Manitoba
Water Technician
Ken Mattes
West Region Tribal Council, Manitoba
Senior Instructor, Circuit Rider
Robert J Spence
Tataskweyak Cree Nation, Manitoba
Water Advocate
Bill Keshane
Keeseekoose First Nation, Saskatchewan
Water Operator
James Cappo
Muscowpetung First Nation, Saskatchewan
Leroy Josie
Hatchet Lake First Nation, Saskatchewan
Water Operator
Melanie Kytwayhat
Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation, Saskatchewan
Water Operator
Orville Longjohn
Sturgeon Lake First Nation, Saskatchewan
Water Operator
Alvin Gladue
Saddle Lake First Nation, Alberta
Chad Simon
Samson Cree Nation, Alberta
Water Advocate
Wayne Badger
Tallcree First Nation, Alberta
Water Operator
Aaron Pete
Chawathil First Nation, British Columbia
Councillor
Joanne Charles
Semiahmoo First Nation, British Columbia
Water Advocate
Mike Ridsdale
Hagwilget First Nation Council, British Columbia
Wilfred John Dennis
Huu-ay-aht First Nation, British Columbia
Water Operator
Brenden Bekale
Tlicho (Tli?cho) People, Northwest Territories
Water Operator
Peter Zoe
Community Government of Behchoko, Northwest Territories
Water Operator
Jon Widney
Champagne Aishihik First Nation, Yukon
Water Operator, Circuit Rider, Entrepreneur, Instructor
Terry Stacey, Susan Jacobs, Colton Diabo
Mohawk Council of Kahnawake, Quebec
Public Works Team
Colin Peters, Joshua Schram
Walpole Island First Nation, Ontario
Water Treatment Plant Team
Jayden Martin-Van Every, Kaci Van Every, Rhonda General (aka Bush), Tiffany Smith
Six Nations of the Grand River, Ontario
Water Team
John Adams, Clayton Barnes, John Tate Lazore, Pat David, Keith Mitchell, Tom Oakes, Conway Thompson, Shane Francis, Craig Cree
Mohawk Council of Akwesasne, Ontario
Water and Wastewater Program Team
Valarie King, Marcus Henry
The Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation, Ontario
Water Walkers
Denise Hourd, Shannon Gladue, Lloyd Watchmaker, Jared Dioan, Kenneth Gadwa-Stone
Kehewin Cree Nation, Alberta
Water Treatment Plant Team
Nathan Miller, Jackie Mykytuik
Frog Lake First Nation, Alberta
Water Systems Engineering Team
Burton Mack, Jim Fox
Toquaht First Nation, British Columbia
Water Technicians
Crystal Starr Lewis, Kevin Good
Snuneymuw First Nation, British Columbia
Tseshaht First Nation, British Columbia
Water Activists
Timothy Williams, Shane West, Ernie French
Takla Lake First Nation, British Columbia
Public Works Team
Past recipients
- 2024: Katy Thorne, Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation and the Public Works Team of Lower Nicola Indian Band
- 2023: Warren Brown, Lytton First Nation
- 2022: Brian Indian, Onigaming First Nation
- 2021: Jonathan Riberdy, Zhiibaahaasing First Nation
- 2020: Éric Sioui, Huron-Wendat from Wendake
- 2019: Deon Hassler, Carry the Kettle First Nation
- 2018: Chief Lorraine Crane, Slate Falls First Nation