Group completes water walk around Buckhorn Lake
Boozhoo! Shé:kon! Nibi Emosaawdamajig (Those Who Walk for the Water) once again hosted the region’s 15th annual Water Awareness Walk on Mother’s Day weekend.
The three-day walk started in Buckhorn on May 10 with a traditional water ceremony.
It took walkers through Lakehurst, Emily Park, Bobcaygeon and back to Buckhorn completing a walk around Pigeon Lake to pray for the health of Nibi (sacred water).
As mothers and grandmothers are celebrated on Mother’s Day, Earth Mother and her life-giving water that nourishes and sustains all creation is also remembered and honoured.
The vision of Elder Shirley Williams and Liz Osawamick, who have long shared traditional Anishinaabe water teachings with our communities, see these water walks as an opportunity for everyone to participate in ceremony and to build awareness and alliances around local water issues.
“I remember our first water walk. We wanted to honour the water and earth and to bring awareness to the public as to what is being done because of pollution,” says Williams, professor emeritus at Trent University and water walk spokesperson.
People were welcomed to join the walk anywhere along the route for whatever time they had available. All nations, gender expressions and abilities were welcome to join the group. Snacks and water breaks happened. In respect for Anishinaabeg ceremonial protocol, women were asked to wear long skirts and men to wear long pants. Children were welcomed accompanied by caregivers. Community police services and other safety vehicles were available to support the walkers and to provide security and assistance.
The walkers honoured their relatives and other water walkers. Grandmother Josephine Mandamin-ba was honoured as she had been instrumental in raising Nibi to an international consciousness. They also honoured their dear friend, Jean Koning-ba, and Ozawamick’s son Corey Jacobs-ba, Migizi Staff-carrier, who began their spirit journeys earlier this year.
Together, they honoured Nibi and brought greater awareness for the need to have clean water for future generations and for all creation. Gchi-miigwech — Thank you!
Winner of Trillium Lakeland Award
Brittany Taylor, First Nations from Curve Lake, was awarded for her innovation and leadership in supporting Indigenous culture recently by the Trillium Lakelands Board of Education. Her work there involves volunteering in classrooms and developing and strengthening relationships with elders, Indigenous knowledge keepers and community members as part of the board’s strategic plan.
Taylor has had a strong connection with her grandfather. She was raised in Toronto but came to Curve Lake to visit her grandfather as she grew up and was taught Indigenous cultural practices. These visits were important to Taylor’s development as a First Nations woman.
As part of her nursing work Taylor suffered a back injury in a workplace incident. She made physical and mental changes. She started to sell repurposed and refurbished home decor pieces online and pop up shops as a way of featuring sustainable living connecting with her First Nations heritage and caring for Mother Earth. Her studio is called Wildwood Studio.
Check out her website Mywildwoodstudio.com.