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For Dalhousie engineering student Charlotte Muise, one of the most significant moments of her academic journey came during her third-year co-op placement in Environmental Engineering.

That’s when she discovered that monitoring stations were being set up in Indigenous lands without any involvement from those communities. The realization surprised her.

“I asked about Indigenous involvement, and they said that doesn't exist,” shares Muise. “They were building these stations all over Indigenous lands and not asking them for any guidance or anything.”

As an Indigenous woman herself, it was in that moment that Muise realized how she could leverage her engineering skills to make a positive impact on her community.

During her final co-op placement with the Ulnooweg Education Centre, Muise had the chance to see firsthand the difference those skills could make to the community.

“I got to build a mini water filtration system, and I got to bring that out into the community. Just seeing how it impacts them really motivated me and made me realize that this is what I want to do for the rest of my life.”

Finding Her Purpose

When Muise first came to Dal, that path wasn’t as clear. Growing up in Newfoundland, engineering had always played a big part in her life.

“Both my parents are engineers—my dad's a civil engineer, my mom's mechanical,” she says. “Having been raised by engineers, we'd always go above and beyond for every school project. So I always knew I was going to go into this field of work.”

Though she had an interest in Environmental Engineering, Muise wasn’t sure where to begin her journey.

“Luckily, Dal has many different niches and different labs and things that you can get involved in,” she says. “There’s just something for everyone.”

For Muise, that place was the Centre for Water Resources Studies (CWRS)—a research hub focused on water issues in the Atlantic region, including drinking water treatment, wastewater management, and sustainable water solutions.

“I always knew the lab existed, but I never really got involved until last summer,” she says. “Then there was this opportunity that arose in collaboration with Ulnooweg and the CWRS to do a master's degree centered on Indigenous water sovereignty. I've always been passionate about my culture, so I set up a couple of appointments with people from the CWRS, and I really got to learn about everything they offer and all the different things I could research.”

Now in her senior year, Muise is applying her passion for Indigenous water sovereignty through one of her environmental engineering courses. Her work is focused on optimizing wastewater treatment lagoons in collaboration with a First Nations community. She is using a Two-Eyed Seeing approach—combining Western scientific methods with Indigenous knowledge to develop a sustainable solution that enhances water sovereignty and improves wastewater management.

“When I came to Dal, I didn’t know if I wanted to do grad school, consulting, or public sector work,” she says. “This definitely helped steer me in the right direction because I found a master’s project that I was interested in applying for and that is accessible to me as an Indigenous engineering student.”

The Power of Mentorship

For Muise, one of the key aspects of her journey has been the mentorship of Daisy Peter-Paul, whom she first met while completing her co-op at Ulnooweg. As the Community Engagement Coordinator for Dal Engineering’s Indigenous stream of the Inclusive Pathways to Engineering Careers Program (IPP), Peter-Paul has been instrumental in helping Muise prepare for the next chapter of her academic journey—pursuing the master’s degree in Environmental Engineering with the CWRS.

“I met Daisy while they were creating the IPP. She interviewed me to talk about my experience as an Indigenous student in engineering,” says Muise.

Since then, she says Peter-Paul has been a constant source of support, helping her overcome barriers to applying for grad school.

Launched in 2023, the IPP is designed to empower students like Muise to succeed in engineering by offering tailored support, mentorship, and opportunities that promote diversity and inclusion. For Indigenous students, the program creates a space to honor traditional knowledge while pursuing an education that can benefit their communities.

“I think the pathways program is so unique and just so great because I never had anything like that growing up,” says Muise. “I was fortunate to have two engineering parents who guided me, but I know that's not the case for most people—Indigenous or not.”

Though the program is still in its early stages, Muise acknowledges the need for more Indigenous representation within engineering. “I can count on one hand how many Indigenous students I know in engineering, and it’s disheartening,” she says, admitting that she’s optimistic the Faculty is moving in the right direction.

Despite the absence of a large Indigenous community at Dal, Muise was able to find a strong support network within her engineering program.

“I’ve met some of my best friends in the engineering program, and they’re friends I will keep for a lifetime,” she says. “I’ve made so many memories with them and learned so much from them as well. Having all those people in my life was the best part of my experience.”

Muise, who was recently accepted into her master's program, she says she feels both excited and confident about her future and grateful for the opportunities that have helped her discover the right path for her.

“I know that the research I’m doing is going to be groundbreaking for the community because no one has really done it before.”