INUVIK
When you're surrounded by one of the world's great reserves of fresh water, it can be hard to understand how precious a resource it is.

Tristen Elanik, a Grade 4 student at East Three Elementary School, was trying to express one of his favourite water memories during a Canadian Water Week workshop March 20 led by Ecology North. - Shawn Giilck/NNSL photo

That's one of the things the staff of Ecology North took away from Canada Water Week workshops with students at East Three Elementary School March 20, proving they learned as much from the students as they taught.

With the Mackenzie Delta being one of the last great storehouses of relatively pristine fresh water, it was clear the students struggled a bit to understand why people in other parts of the world had such concerns with water issues.

Staff members told the students they were "very lucky" they could still drink the water from the delta with a minimal amount of treatment, since that's now a rarity across Canada.

That's something that people in other parts of the country don't have an opportunity to experience anymore, said Rose Jackson, the interim education program manager.

"I think students do have some awareness that clean drinking water is something we need, but maybe from where they are, they have a different perspective."

One of the exercises for the students attending the workshops was to describe their favourite or most vivid memory of their experiences with water, and that's when it became evident that they likely do have a different perspective than more land-locked communities and regions.

While in other spots, activities such as going boating or fishing might a big thing, the East Three students didn't consider such activities as anything but part of normal life.

They had to be reminded that being out on the water qualified as an experience with water.

Tristen Elanik was busy drawing a photo of one of his favourite spots along the delta, which is near Aklavik with the Richardson Mountains in the background, while Tashena Dick was sketching her father's camp on the river.

It's likely that students from areas that aren't near a large river or lake may have a better appreciation of the value of water, Jackson said, but Northern students "are generally more aware of their connection with the land.

"It's likely (students in the delta) haven't had to think too much about water conservation," Jackson said. "We're trying to focus on the idea that there is only so much fresh water, and that we want to ensure that every generation has fresh water. But certainly there's not likely a time where there is a water shortage. You're really surrounded by water here, compared to southern Ontario or the Prairies, where drought is a real concern."

That awareness of just how limited and precious fresh water supplies are worldwide is the primary message of Water Week, she added.

"Water Week is a national event," she explained. "Ecology North is promoting Water Week activities throughout the North and our role is to come to the students and talk to them about water quality and preserving water.

"With the Mackenzie being one of the largest drainage basins in the world, the timing is awesome to raise awareness about the water that everyone relies on.

"The focus this year is on the Mackenzie," Jackson continued. "We're showing the documentary Cold Amazon March 22, along with the Water Week activities."