Water walker Florine Chosa crosses the Portage Lift Bridge carrying Nibi (water). Mike Rodriguez carries the Eagle Staff. (Terri Denomie photo)
Co-leader Kathleen Smith and son Jacob Smith approach the end of the three-day journey. (Terri Denomie photo)
Women wore long skirts to show respect for their grandmothers, Mother Earth and themselves, and those on their moon (menstruating) did not carry the water as they were considered to be already in ceremony. Men wore long pants as a sign of respect and carried an eagle staff for protection. Mike Rodriguez, the primary eagle staff carrier, walked virtually the entire route. “There were up to 20 in attendance at any given time,” Pitts reported, “and there were many friendly horns tooting in support and donations offered from passing cars.” One of the original members of the Water Walk movement is the late Pauline Knapp-Spruce of the KBIC. A 17-mile walk on the Keweenaw Bay is held in her honor each July during the week of the KBIC powwow. For the past three years, KBIC members Terri Denomie and Kathleen Smith have led the Keweenaw walk after learning the protocol from Grandmother Josephine Mandamin of Wiikwemkoong First Nation in Ontario, and the Three Fires Midewiwin Lodge. Mandamin, who was an origi-
A group of water walkers is shown walking on highway M 26 in Hancock. The towers of the Portage Lake Lift Bridge are seen in the background. (Donica Hope Dravillas photo)
nal member of the water protectors movement and founder of the Mother Earth Water Walkers, walked the perimeter of Lake Superior in 2003 praying and carrying a bucket of water to raise awareness for the need to protect the waters from pollution. People of all colors, faiths and philosophies were encouraged to join any or all of the route. “It is really nice to have people walk with us. We value everyone and want everyone to experience it,” said Pitts, who walked about eight miles of the route on Sunday, October 10. “The vessel-carrying is a little nerve wracking because you don’t want to spill it,” she added. “It’s really different when you carry it. When you’re walking with the group you feel free to talk and be social, but when you carry the vessel it’s … I don’t know, there is almost a reverence to it as you focus on prayer.” In order to keep moving continuously, just like water, walkers handed out explanatory brochures to curious passersby. They used ones left over from last year rather than waste the resources to print new ones. Partici-
pants were told to bring drinking water in a reusable container (no bottled water) and moleskin for blisters, and drugs and alcohol were banned. The walk concluded on the late afternoon on October 11, Indigenous Peoples’ Day, with a final feast provided by the Cultural Committee of KBIC. Besides KBIC, walk sponsors included the Indigenous Peoples’ Day Campaign of Upper Michigan, the Western Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Region and the Michigan Tech Writing Center. “Water is life-giving and as we give life through water, we take on the protection and care of the water of Mother Earth as well. This is not a new philosophy, though this protection of water by Anishinaabekweg through Water Walks is perhaps a relatively new way of doing that work,” Pitts said. “We want everyone to be aware of the importance and value of water. It is a living thing so treat it as such. You can pray for the water just as you can pray for your family members.” About the author: Joyce Wiswell is a freelance writer and editor in Hancock. MM
November 2021
Marquette Monthly
31
