The Water Initiative is a joint project between WAG-Qaumajuq and the Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources (CIER). The goal of the project is to bring together emerging Indigenous artists for a residency at WAG-Qaumajuq where they will receive mentorship from established Indigenous artists and collaborate on an artwork that speaks to their relationship with water, to be exhibited at the WAG-Qaumajuq. The exhibition title is pimâtisiwin nipi/bimaadiziwin nibi/tu besudi.

The participating residents are Daimhín Ó Rinn, Desiree Moise, Jasmine Fontaine, Paige Miswagon, Zac Ironstand.

Mainly coming from communities in northern Manitoba where Cree and Dene modes of subsistence are threatened by extractive industry that negatively impacts waterways, the artists participating in the residency each have a unique perspective on the importance of having access to water.