Atlantic First Nations Water Authority: A Utility Created by and to Serve First Nations

Key Takeaways When confronted with the need for a utility or dedicated provider of water and wastewater services, the Indigenous peoples of Atlantic Canada viewed the issue from a perspective shaped by historical legacies. The Mi'kmaw and Wolastoqiyik (Wabanaki) nations founded the Atlantic First Nations Water Authority (AFNWA), one of Canada's first Indigenous-owned water and wastewater services utilities. AFNWA adopted a full-service, decentralized, hub-and-spoke model structure as being most consistent with First Nations concepts of ownership and values.