7th Water Awareness Walk in the Kawarthas

Press Release

Boozhoo! Shé:kon! We invite you to join us for the 7th and last Water Awareness Walk in the Kawarthas on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 8, 2016. This year, we will walk in ceremony to honour Nibi (Sacred Water) from Trent University and follow the Otonabee River down to Nogojiwanong – Little Lake and back again to Trent. The walk will begin early Sunday morning with a Traditional Water Ceremony at 6:30 AM at the tipi in the Traditional Area at Trent (see attached map). Total distance is approximately 20 km. We will complete the walk by late afternoon, with a potluck dinner at the Gathering Space, Trent University.

The Water Walks are the vision of Elder Shirley Williams and Liz Osawamick, who have shared Traditional Anishinaabe Water Teachings to the Peterborough area at large through these walks. Mother’s Day weekend in May is a symbolic date for the Water Walks. As we celebrate our mothers and grandmothers, we also remember and honour our Earth Mother and her life-giving water that nourishes and sustains all Creation.

We have been honoured to have Grandmother Josephine Mandamin walk with us in previous years. We are happy to have her presence with us again, as we say farewell to the Water Walks in the Kawarthas. Grandmother Josephine has been an inspiration for Anishinaabe Kwewag and supporters to take up the call to bring local awareness to our communities about the sacredness of Nibi and the perils that face the waterways in our homelands.

In keeping with First Nations ceremonial protocol, women are respectfully asked to wear long skirts and men to wear long pants. We also ask that your pets remain at home. Children, of course, are more than welcome but must be accompanied by parents or caregivers. Food and water will be provided and breaks will be held periodically throughout the day. Police services and other support vehicles will follow the walkers to provide security and assistance. Please wear good walking shoes and weather appropriate outerwear.

Aambe! Come! Join us anywhere on the route, for an hour or two or for the day. Walk with us as we honour Nibi and strive to bring a greater awareness for the need to have clean water for future generations and for all Creation.

Gchi-Miigwech – Thank you!

For more information about the water walk, please contact one of the following:

Shirley Williams,
Elder and Spokesperson
Phone: 705-741-8298
Email: siwilliams@trentu.ca

Liz Osawamick,
Lead Water Walker
Phone: 705-872-2541
Email: ozamik@hotmail.com

Google map link for Water Walk route: https://goo.gl/maps/qoq2hHW67ER2

Nibi Mosewin Maanpii Nekeyin Kawarthas
Water Awareness Walks in the Kawarthas

– BACKGROUND INFORMATION –

The Water Awareness Walks in the Kawarthas are the vision of Elder Shirley Williams and Liz Osawamick, who have shared Traditional Anishinaabe Water Teachings to the Peterborough community at large. After the first Water Walk in 2010, the group “Nibi Emosaawdamajig – Those Who Walk for the Water” was formed. We are a group of women and men from Peterborough and the Kawarthas who are committed to sharing these Water Teachings with our community through annual Water Walks on Mother’s Day in May.

Historically, the Kawartha Lakes waterways are the traditional home and territory of the Mississauga Anishinaabe Nation. Anishinaabeg believe all Creation is interconnected. The Elders teach us that our actions today will affect the next seven generations to come. In response, we have come together to braid ceremony, spirit, and community to awaken stakeholders to the urgency of maintaining clean water for us now in the present time and for our children in the future. Mother’s Day weekend in May is a symbolic date for the Water Awareness Walks. As we celebrate our mothers and grandmothers, we also remember and honour our Earth Mother and her life-giving Nibi (Sacred Water) that nourishes and sustains all Creation.

The first ceremonial Water Walk took place in May 2010 around Rice Lake, where the First Nation Territories of Hiawatha and Alderville are located. It was an arduous 110 km trek through wind, rain, snow and sunshine. In May 2011, we walked 75 km around Upper Stoney Lake. The weekend was filled with sunshine, warm weather and camaraderie. In 2012, we walked around Upper Chemong and Buckhorn Lakes, with members from Curve Lake First Nation Territory. It was another weekend of warm weather and new and renewed friendships. In May 2013, we once again walked 110 km around Rice Lake. The weather was reminiscent of the first walk, with rain, snow and sunshine all weekend. This walk completed the circle, fulfilling our initial commitment to walk around a lake each spring for four consecutive years in the Kawarthas. After four years of Water Walks, support came from all four directions and we were encouraged to continue the work of bringing water awareness to our communities. The decision was made to continue for another three years, which brought the total number of Water Walks to seven (7). The number seven was chosen to honour all seven directions – east, south, west, north, above, below and centre. The 5th Water Walk in May of 2014, took place on a beautiful, sunny day on Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation Territory, with the highest number of walkers to date. MSIFN was overwhelmingly supportive throughout the 27 km trek. Last year, the 6th Water Walk took place along the Otonabee River between Trent University and Lakefield, and back again to Trent. Community support during the 25 km walk was outstanding.

This year, we are preparing for the 7th and last Water Awareness Walk on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 8th. We will walk in ceremony from the tipi at Trent University and follow the Otonabee River down to Nogojiwanong/Little Lake in downtown Peterborough, and back again to Trent. In previous years, we were honoured to have Grandmother Josephine Mandamin walk with us. She has been instrumental in raising the sacredness of Nibi to an international consciousness and is an inspiration for Anishinaabe Kwewag and supporters to take up the call to bring local awareness to our communities about the perils that face the waterways in our homelands. She will be with us again on Mother’s Day, as we say farewell to the Water Walks in the Kawarthas.

We, Nibi Emosaawdamajig, want to convey our heartfelt Gchi-Miigwech to you, our Water Walk family, for generously supporting the Annual Water Walks in the Kawarthas for the past seven years. Special acknowledgements go to the First Nation communities of Hiawatha, Alderville, Curve Lake and Scugog, for assisting us with food, snacks, donations and providing police services. In the past three years, we held several successful breakfast fundraisers in Peterborough. We thank the local community for their amazing generosity and hearty enjoyment of pancakes and maple syrup. Lastly, but not least, to each walker who came with their strong hearts and well-worn walking shoes – you are truly Water Warriors and we thank you for the many, many kilometers you have walked with us. The time has come to pass the Water Walk vessel and staff to the community. Perhaps someone will pick it up?

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