Building a Path Forward: Alexander First Nation’s Water Resiliency Work with MAGNA Engineering

Alexander First Nation’s work to protect, restore, and govern its waters is being guided by both community knowledge and strong technical planning. A key partner in this process is MAGNA Engineering Services Inc., a Canadian engineering firm with experience in water resources, infrastructure planning, environmental systems, and community-focused projects.

MAGNA has been supporting Alexander First Nation through a Water Resiliency Assessment and planning process that brings together engineering analysis, community input, and long-term strategic thinking. This work is not about short-term fixes. It is about building a defensible, Nation-led roadmap for protecting water systems and strengthening resilience for generations to come.

Recently, MAGNA presented the results and next steps of this work to the Nation in a Water Resiliency Assessment Refinement Session. The presentation outlines both what has been learned so far and how the Nation will move forward

From Concerns to Structure

The presentation begins by summarizing the progress of the project so far. This includes:

• Reviewing technical and historical information

• Completing a risk assessment of water-related challenges

• Incorporating insights from Elder and community listening sessions

• Exploring partnerships and grant opportunities

  
  

Rather than starting with pre-determined solutions, the process was designed to first understand the system — how water moves across the land, what has changed, and where the greatest risks and opportunities exist.

This work directly supports the broader AFN NIPÎY initiative: moving from reacting to water problems after they happen, toward planning and prevention.

Four Core Themes for Water Resiliency

Through technical analysis and community discussions, four major themes emerged as the foundation of Alexander First Nation’s water strategy:

1. Environmental Protection and Restoration

2. Water Autonomy

3. Flood and Drought Resiliency

4. Emergency Management

   
   

Each theme represents a different but connected part of the water system.

Environmental Protection and Restoration focuses on repairing riparian areas, improving biodiversity, supporting native vegetation, and using tools like beaver management and natural canopy cover to help the land hold and clean water.

Water Autonomy addresses the Nation’s current reliance on externally supplied water and the lack of infrastructure ownership, and looks toward building greater control over its own potable water systems and groundwater monitoring.

Flood and Drought Resiliency focuses on reducing vulnerability to extreme weather events through better stormwater management and erosion control.

Emergency Management focuses on preparedness — including access to non-potable water for wildfire response and stronger emergency response planning.

Setting Clear Priorities

A key part of the session was a comparative analysis exercise that helped rank these four themes based on urgency, impact, and long-term benefit.

The results were clear:

1. Environmental Protection and Restoration – Rank 1 (Top Priority)

2. Water Autonomy – Rank 2

3. Emergency Management – Rank 2

4. Flood and Drought Resiliency – Rank 3

   
   

This confirmed what many community members and Elders have been saying for years:If the land cannot hold, slow, and clean water, no amount of downstream infrastructure alone will solve the problem.

This priority structure now forms the backbone of the AFN NIPÎY water planning framework.

Grounding the Work in the Land and Community Use

The presentation also focused heavily on where water and riparian restoration matters most to the Nation.

Community members were asked:

• Where do you fish, hunt, swim, skate, and gather?

• Which riparian areas are most important?

• Where will bison and wildlife be present?

  
  

They were also asked what changes they have noticed over time, including:

• Decreased water levels

• Reduced water clarity

• Increased algae growth

• Oil sheens and sediment

• Changes to riverbanks and lake shapes

• Changes in wildlife presence

  
  

This ensures that restoration priorities are not chosen only by maps and models, but by real use, real observations, and real cultural importance.

Turning Planning into Action

The final part of the presentation focuses on what comes next.

Three immediate directions were identified:

• Grant research and funding support

• Developing implementable restoration actions

• Producing materials to share knowledge and build support

  
  

This marks the transition from planning into on-the-ground action — exactly the shift that AFN NIPÎY is designed to support.

How This Fits into AFN NIPÎY

This work with MAGNA Engineering is a cornerstone of the AFN NIPÎY initiative.

It provides:

• A defensible technical foundation

• A clear, Nation-approved priority structure

• A bridge between community knowledge and engineering design

• A roadmap from concern to action

  
  

Most importantly, it ensures that Alexander First Nation is leading its own water future, guided by its values, its land, and its long-term vision.

Moving Forward

Water protection is not a single project. It is a long-term responsibility.

Through this planning process, Alexander First Nation is building the structure, knowledge, and momentum needed to:

• Restore damaged systems

• Protect critical waters like Sandy Lake and surrounding creeks

• Strengthen resilience to floods, droughts, and emergencies

• And reclaim stewardship over its waters for future generations

  
  

This is what AFN NIPÎY is about: not just responding to problems, but rebuilding the system that carries life.