July 22, 2015 issue 29

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the north grenville

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TIMES The Voice of North Grenville

Vol. 3, No. 29

Water Walkers honour our Earth

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Last Tuesday, the Christian Reformed Church in Kemptville welcomed a group of weary travelers into their hall for a hearty spaghetti dinner. The Water Walkers are a group of First Nations women and men from all over the country who are making a spiritual journey, honoring the water that gives the people on this planet life, and retracing the steps of their ancestors. Don Heckman, a member of the church community, welcomed the group, honoring them and pointing out their shared values. “We also believe that the Creator gave

this earth to people and it’s a sacred trust. You are standing up for it.” The Sacred Water Walk began in Matane, Quebec, where they took water from the Atlantic Ocean. This water will be walked with great ceremony and care through Ontario and into the U.S., ending its journey at Madeline Island in Wisconsin (a journey of roughly 2,226 kms). It is the women’s job to carry the water and they take it just as seriously as if they were carrying their own child. “It’s like we’re carrying life itself. We are taking on all of the emotions and all of the feelings that come along with

that obligation and responsibility,” explains Tasha Beeds, a dedicated water walker. The men in the group are charged with carrying the eagle staff, protecting the water and ensuring that there are no obstacles in its path. If there are not enough men in the group, which there weren’t when they stopped in Kemptville, the woman carrying the water also carries the eagle staff. The walkers start their journey every day before dawn and end before dusk. “Walking for 16 hours a day is very physically demanding,” Tasha admits. “But it’s a very powerful experience.” Josephine Mandamin is

one of the elders in the group and the original Water Walker. She has walked around the Great Lakes and over 10,000 kms to raise awareness of the mistreatment of water. “The water is sick; people need to really fight for that water, to speak for that water, to love that water,” she says. The goal of this year’s Sacred Water Walk is to raise awareness of the oil spills on the Great Lakes and the Saint Lawrence River and the train derailments that have been disastrous for our waters and the animals, fish and plants that call it home. It is also in protest at any pipelines that continued on page 2

July 22, 2015


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