The Hassanamisco Band of Nipmuc and the Blackstone River Watershed Council & Friends of the Blackstone, in partnership with Chemistry faculty member Emily Sprague-Klein (Osage), are leading an initiative to restore the Blackstone River following centuries of pollution from heavy metals and recent PFAS contamination. The team conducts fieldwork, develops remediation methods, and uses scientific analysis to improve water quality sensing while honoring the river’s importance to both Indigenous communities and current residents. The initiative also includes mentoring Native high school students in New England, collaborating with the regional tribal EPA, and working with local Rhode Island conservation commissions.