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Chù (Water) is life. Water ecosystems can teach us about ourselves and the world around us. Humans, other life and viruses all shed their genetic material into water. By sampling water and examining this genetic material (environmental RNA and DNA or ‘eDNA’), we can determine the types and quantities of microbes found in our wastewater.

Water monitoring programs across Canada track pathogens and respond rapidly to health threats, but current monitoring is disproportionately in urban environments. There is a need to include more Northern, Rural, Remote and Indigenous (NRRI) communities in this monitoring to ensure these communities receive the same response to health concerns.

NRRI communities face unique challenges and have needs that differ from urban priorities. They require approaches that reflect community interests, including holistic integration of eDNA data with monitoring of traditional food sources. This project, with joint academic and community co-leadership by Dr. Erin Gill (Simon Fraser University) and Math’ieya Alatini (One Yukon Coalition), will expand water monitoring capacity to more NRRI communities. It aims to serve as a model for broader national and international use, complementing other efforts to promote inclusive eDNA monitoring.

The project will:

1. 1. perform engagement activities to identify community partners

1. 1. conduct needs assessments and create a template eDNA monitoring training package and

1. 1. provide these packages to NRRI communities and facilitate training to empower them to support eDNA monitoring.

This collaborative effort will benefit from industry support and include consultation with First Nation Governments, adjacent municipalities, other community stakeholders, public health and academics.  Collectively this will lead to a more robust, inclusive response to public health threats in Canada.