Technical Services

 

Our technical services departments work hard to ensure that community facilities are operating safely and effectively. Each of our services work together to provide insight and guidance on various developments happening in Pays Plat First Nation.

 

Environmental Tech

 

Preserving the present for the future, the environmental technician effectively manages natural and man-made environments to ensure the safety of Pays Plat and surrounding communities.

 

DEBBIE KING

 

Debra has been the Environmental  Technician for Pays Plat First Nation since 2013. Her role has been instrumental in linking traditional knowledge with scientific research. Another aspect of her role has been to inform community members on the health of the environment in the area which has involved hosting community workshops with guest speakers from experts in the field.

 

Debra primarily focuses on environmental monitoring including source water and ecosystem protection from future impacts of climate change. To facilitate this, she has created a Source Water Protection Plan that continuously monitors the waters of Lake Superior that includes inland groundwater and soil sampling to ensure the community’s drinking water is safe. This also includes monitoring the area’s flora and fauna for changes in habitat conditions and identifying the presence of invasive species in a warming climate.

 

Water Treatment Plant

 

Easy monitoring and operation of the water treatment plant ensures that community members are provided with clean and safe water all year round.

 

Rene Wanakamik

 

Rene has been Pays Plat First Nation’s Water Plant Operator for 25+ years. He has been engaged in all aspects that concern the operations of the Water Plant, as well as the distribution. He currently holds a provincial Class 2 Water Treatment license, which is required for the position. Rene provides quality services that support the community’s water supply. He has lived on the Pays Plat First Nation all his life, and loves his community and the people that he serves.

 

Traditional Values & GIS

 

We take a unique approach to safeguard and protect the community’s sacred information for future generations through the combination of modern GIS technologies.

 

GARY BOUCHARD

 

Gary is well versed in many influential roles for Pays Plat including traditional ecological technician, conservation biologist, and GIS technician. He has worked in the field of GIS for 30 years, trained to become a warden, and has been an active part of the Working Group for the Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area proposed agreement. He was then hired in his home community of Pays Plat First Nation through the Nature Conservancy of Canada to monitor water use and activities on the islands.

 

His long-standing knowledge of the lake has provided him the opportunity to speak about his experiences on Lake Superior to many organizations including Parks Canada, the MNRF, and Lakehead University to name a few. Overall, he collects historical data and stories and continues to protect this valuable and sacred information.

 

He is a graduate from both Humber College in Media Foundations, Film & Television Production and Yukon College in Aboriginal Leadership Development.

 

In his free time, Gary enjoys fishing, hunting, creating artwork, playing musical instruments, and has been known to sing every now and then.