On a summer morning beside a flowing stream on Christian Island in southern Georgian Bay, Ontario, high school students bend low to scoop water and peer into its depths.

Equipped with scientific tools and curiosity, their tasks are prosaic: they test the water’s quality, search for aquatic insects and map their local watershed. But their work is also revolutionary. These Indigenous youth are training to become the next generation of water protectors for their community on Beausoleil First Nation.

Now in its fifth year, the reserve’s summer program brings students together for several weeks of immersive learning in water science and environmental studies.

Federal records obtained by Canada’s National Observer through an Access to Information and Privacy request show Canada has inves

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