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(2019) Anishinabek News article By Rick Garrick

WIIKWEMKOONG UNCEDED TERRITORY—Memories of the late Water Walker Josephine Mandamin and her water walks were recently shared by four water walkers and the author of the children’s book, The Water Walker, Joanne Robertson...

A personal account of what it means to walk for the water from the Water Walkers and founder of the Grand River Water Walk - Mary Anne Caibaiosai.  

This site is dedicated to creating a circle of storytelling around the Grand River.  Our circle is animated by two big questions:

“What does the Grand River mean to you?”

“What do you mean to the Grand River?”

Answers to the first question flow from our love for the river.  What do we like to do alongside this water?  How has this river shaped us?  For what are we most thankful? Answers to the second question flow more from our concern for the river.  How can a million people live in harmony with all of life in this watershed?  How can we honour treaties and agreements that were made with the Haudenosaunee and Anishnawbe peoples along this river?   Are you being called to do something to preserve and enhance life in this ecosystem?

(2019) Hear Mary Anne speak as a Water Warrior - April 3rd 7-10pm.  Hawks Nest.  Wilfred Laurier University.  

(2012) Josephine Mandamin, Anishinaabe grandmother and founder of the Mother Earth Water Walk, shares teachings about the water and her experience walking around each of the Great Lakes.  21 minutes of teachings.  

(2018) Mary Anne Caibaiosi is leading the All Nations Grand River Water Walk. The Annishnaabe elder from Kitchener will be joined by people from all walks of life for the two week walk from the headwater of the river to Lake Erie and back. She is dedicating the walk to the memory of her sister Violet who is one of the original Water Walkers. (Joe Pavia/CBC)What's this item about? What makes it interesting? Write a catchy description to grab your audience's attention...

Information on the Haldimand Tract.  Map of the Haldimand Tract (Grand River)

Website of Josephine Mandamin, who walked around and the length of all the great lakes. 

"the water is sick...and people need to really fight for that water, to speak for that water, to love that water" (Josephine Mandamin, Mother Earth Water Walk)

The Water Song Brought forth by Mashkoonce Day, Wasaw Wahzhoo Banaise Dodem (Condor Clan)

Performed by Dorene Day, Waubanewquay, Marten Clan

Produced by Stephen Lang

 

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. So she did this. Every day on their drive to drop Mashkoonce (Little Elk) to school, they passed a body of water. And every day they said these words to the water as they drove by. They made games by saying it in different voices and then would say it as fast as they could. Then one day Mashkoonce, said, "Nokomis why can't we say this in our language?" So, Dorene asked her daughter's language teacher to write it in Ojibwemowin. Dorene had the words taped to the car visor as they learned the words. One day this grandson Mashkoonce said, "Nokomis why don't we sing the words, don't you think the water would like it to be sung?" So she thought about it and came up with the tune. They sang this song to the water every morning on their drive to school.

It is sung like a lullaby and we don't use shakers or drums.

Doreen and her grandson, Mashkoonce, give permission for everyone to share this song... sing it to the water every day.

Ne-be Gee Zah- gay- e- goo

Gee Me-gwetch -wayn ne- me -- goo

Gee Zah Wayn ne- me- goo

(2018) Article by Mary Anne Caibaiosai, April 26, 2018

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