Water Walker Painting by Moses Lunham,
Kettle and Stony Point First Nation, 2019
Water
Water
- we have a reciprocal relationship with the Earth
- we are stewards of the Earth
- we can take care of the Earth in a sustainable way
Every school has this book!
The+Water+Walker_Teaching+Guide.pdfThe determined Ojibwe grandmother (Nokomis), Josephine Mandamin, and her great love for Nibi (water) walked to raise awareness of our need to protect Nibi for future generations, and for all life on the planet. Josephine, (Anishinaabemowin: Biidaasige-ba - "The one who comes with the light", February 21, 1942 – February 22, 2019) passed away in 2019 and her determination and example challenges us all to take up our responsibility to protect our water, the giver of life, and to protect our planet for all generations. Josephine's story connects locally since Josephine, along with other women, men and youth, have walked around all the Great Lakes from the four salt waters, or oceans, to Lake Superior.
Visit the website Mother Earth Water Walker to view photo galleries, recent news and stories as well as watch videos about the continued actions to protect water.
Learning Opportunities for the Classroom
March 22 is World Water Day
Join Ojibwe Storyteller Isaac Murdoch as he paints Red Feather Woman and shares about the beautiful gifts water provides. Video will be available beginning March 22 and will remain open for classes to select the best time.
SCCDSB Classes Register HERE
March 18, 2025 | DWF LIVE: Storytime with Willie Poll
11:00 AM PT | 12:00 PM MT | 1:00 PM CT | 2:00 PM ET | 3:00 PM AT | 3:30 PM NT
Prepare for World Water Day with a DWF LIVE featuring Métis author Willie Poll. Willie will read her book Minnow: The Girl Who Became Part Fish and answer questions from DWF’s host. This session will explore the spiritual, cultural, and ecological significance of water in Indigenous communities in Canada. The first half of the session can be shared directly with students in JK - Grade 6, and the Q&A afterwards is designed to support adults in teaching children about water rights and Indigenous water protectors.
Check out these books in all schools!
The+Water+Walker_Teaching+Guide.pdf
We Are Water Protectors Activity Kit_Final.pdf
Primary Grade Level Connections
View the book, the Water Walker, read by author Joanne Robertson:
This book is also in your school!
Explore
Visit the Wonderoplis website to find out interesting information about water.
Connect
Look critically at the way we use water every day using this Environmental Footprint Water Consumption pdf.
Grade-2-Environmental-Footprint-Water-by-GBB.pdf
Get students thinking about the uses of water in their daily lives (French)
Action
Share how you are protecting the Earth's water!
Emailing The+Water+Walker_COLOURING+PAGE_1.pdfCreate a message for the environment
Junior Grade Level Connections
Investigate
Read the infographic below and list 3-5 ways you can protect water.
Visit the Wonderoplis website to find out interesting information about water.
inc_apprendre_a_decouvrir_l_eau_2007.pdf
Connect
Read about Autumn Peltier, teen water warrior:
Read about availability, quality, and consumption of water in our world:
Get outside and play this clean water and sanitation activity!
Learn more about the groundwater cycle and pollution (French)
Our Planet: Special Issue on the Environment (French Resource)
Action
Learn the Water Song and the story behind it:
The Water Song, by Doreen Day, is one way to do something for the water.
The story of the Nibi (Water) Song told by Beatrice Menase Kwe Jackson, Migizi Clan.
This song was written by Doreen Day at the request of her grandson. She attended a conference about the water in which the internationally known speaker, Dr. Masaru Emoto said, the very least we should do every day, is to speak to the water:
Water, we love you.
We thank you.
We respect you.
Doreen, an Ojibway Anishinaabe kwe and Mother Earth Water Walker, was with Nokomis when she started the first walk. Read her story of how this song came to be as she and her son crossed the waters between Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario and Wisconsin to attend school. We can all do something for the water. Read her story and learn about the water song linked here:
Share how you are protecting the Earth's water!
Emailing The+Water+Walker_COLOURING+PAGE+2.pdfCreate a message for the environment
Intermediate and Secondary Connections
Listen to the Secret Life of Water CBC Podcast
The Transcript to the Secret Life of Water CBC Podcast can be used to follow along as you listen to the podcast.
Investigate
Investigate your personal daily water usage.
Water and Energy Infographic
Learn the differences between groundwater and surface water, and why they are important.
Examine
Examine the impact of boil water advisories and access to clean water on reserves.
infographic-safe-water-fn.pdfSustainable Consumption (French Resource)
Action
Research a current Canadian environmental initiative and design an outline for a social justice campaign.
All banners in the image linked above are free to download and use for all water and land protection actions by grassroots people. Permission is not granted for private companies or profit.
"We’re all born of water, we’re all connected with the water; we’re all related in that way. Even though we’re not related by blood, we’re related by water. So water is very precious for us.” -Josephine Mandamin
For the Anishinaabe, water is associated with Mother Earth and it is the responsibility of grandmothers (nokomis) to lead other women to pray for and protect water. Josephine Mandamin, one of the original water walkers, wanted “to do something about it.” And that she did! She led water walks all around the Great Lakes, bringing awareness of the need to protect water. She has since passed away and we carry her message of the need to protect water. We will have grandmothers join us on our water walk and show support of our call to protect water as a school.
Videos & Documentaries
"The water is sick, ... and people really need to fight for that water, to speak for that water, to love that water." Josephine Mandamin
Performed by Dorene Day, Waubanewquay, Marten Clan & Produced by Stephen Lang
Josephine Mandamin's Water Journey
CBC: The Secret Life of Canada
S2: Shout out to Autumn Peltier
"I speak for the water because water is alive and it does have a spirit. And she hurts every day. " Autumn Peltier
Autumn Peltier addresses the UN on the importance of water.
Canada's Water Crisis: Indigenous Families at Risk
Teaching Resources
The+Water+Walker_Teaching+Guide.pdf
Click on the Safe Water for First Nations link to find out more information: https://canadians.org/fn-water/
Take Action:
infographic-safe-water-fn.pdfFNwaterdrop-school.pdfWrite a letter to the Prime Minister!
ProtectingOurSacredWater-FNMIResource.pdfreconciling-promises-reality-clean-drinking-water-first-nations.pdf
