There are now nearly 30 Saskatchewan First Nations using the technology developed at Yellow Quill, with more in the works, according to Deon Hassler, a water technician and circuit rider for the File Hills-Qu’Appelle Tribal Council. Early adopters included Yellow Quill, George Gordon, Whitecap Dakota, Dakota Dunes, Kawacatoose, Poundmaker, Muskeg Lake, Witchikan Lake, Saulteaux, James Smith, Makwa Sahgaiehcan, Shoal Lake, Sturgeon Lake, Mistawasis, Kahkewistahaw, Kinistin and White Bear. “Bio filtration seems to be spreading across First Nations in Saskatchewan because it’s in line with the worldview of treating water with respect and treating organisms with respect,” says Zagozewski.

Rebecca Zagozewski is the executive director of the Saskatchewan First Nations Water Association, a non-profit organization that works to build First Nations’ capacity to take care and control of their own water services. She says recruitment and retention of water treatment plant operators is a “real problem” on Saskatchewan First Nations, largely because First Nations often can’t pay operators competitive wages. That means some water operators are stuck in essential jobs feeling unsupported and with no replacement if anything goes wrong. Many First Nations operate in this state, with the safety of their drinking water reliant on just one or a few underpaid and overworked operators. “I know some operators that have been in the same position, operating the same water plants for 20 years, and never got a raise, never get vacation,” Zagozewski said.