To get started

Brainstorm

Take some time to think about project ideas and how they contribute to water stewardship. Also think about the benefits of your project to you and others in your community.

Set goals

Clarify your project goals and make sure they are specific, realistic and meaningful.

Find a Mentor

Mentors are people you trust who will provide support and advice on your project throughout planning and implementation. Mentors can help you plan and connect you with people who can help you maximize the benefits of your project. These could be members of your community such as Elders, teachers, coaches, members of the Water Strategy Indigenous Steering Committee (ISC), community organizations or other networks. If you have not yet secured a mentor, you are still eligible to apply as long as you are open to working with us to identify a suitable mentor.

Research

Talk to your peers and community members and make sure your project focuses on supporting water stewardship and is important to people and the environment.

Find a Sponsoring Organization

A sponsoring organization is any organization that is eligible to enter a Standard Contribution Agreement with the GNWT and is willing to administer the financial part of your project grant. These organizations include: Indigenous and community governments and organizations, not-for profit organizations, resource boards, regulatory boards and universities, colleges and high schools. Please contact us if you are having trouble securing a sponsoring organization (nwtwaterstrategy@gov.nt.ca)

If you have questions about the application, please contact us by email (nwtwaterstrategy@gov.nt.ca) or phone 867-767-9234 ext. 53142.

Application Approval Process (Link on left hand navigation)

• You will receive notification via email once we have received your application.
• Members of the Water Strategy Indigenous Steering Committee (ISC) will review and evaluate each application and determine a final list of approved grant recipients.
• We will get in touch with all applicants to share the decisions made about your application. Not all projects that meet the eligibility criteria may be selected due to budget restraints.

If your application is successful, we will ask for the following commitments:

• Financial responsibility: The funds must be used as planned. You and your sponsoring organization are responsible for providing documentation of expenditures. We will provide you with a template for financial reporting and ask that you keep receipts.
• Reporting: You will be asked to provide a short video summary of your project, what you learned, what worked well and what could have been improved. There will also be a one-page summary form to complete. We will also ask you to share project pictures and stories!
• Sharing with others: You likely learned a lot through your project that will benefit other projects and inspire other young leaders. We will work with you to share your story with others, including through opportunities such as the Annual Water Stewardship Strategy Implementation Workshop and relevant youth gatherings.

Past Projects: Youth Leading the Way in Water Stewardship

Take inspiration from past successful projects led by youth in the NWT. Here's a glimpse at some of the creative and impactful initiatives funded through the program:

• Kathleen Fordy (2018-19): "A Flow of New Water Keepers and the Water Ways of Ancestors" — a workshop exploring the connection between Indigenous traditions and water stewardship.
• Melissa MacLellan (2018-19): Hosted a Water Treatment Plant Tour and Plastic Ocean Movie Night to educate youth about water treatment processes and plastic pollution.
• Brandon Pludwinski (2021-22): "Photo-based Exploration of the Mackenzie River" — an art-focused initiative that connected youth to local waterways through photography.
• Nicole Cheng (2021-22): Conducted a hands-on event and discussion around arsenic levels in Frame Lake, empowering youth to investigate local water quality issues.
• Richelle Castillo (2022-23): Organized a Water Stewardship Film Screening, providing an engaging way for people to learn about water-related environmental issues.
• Aimee Yurris (2024-25): Planned an Intergenerational Voyageur Canoe Tour that connected Elder with youth through canoeing, to share traditional knowledge, keeping the land and water healthy, and reflecting on everyone’s roles as water stewards.
• Clementine Bouche (2024-25): Created a unique experience, Connecting with Water Through Swimpacking, blending water exploration with environmental education.
• Brandon Pludwinski (2024-25): "Reconnecting with Local Waters" — a hands-on experience to train youth to safely go on the land and connect with their local watersheds.