A dedicated group of Anishinaabe Grandmothers are currently walking around Lake Huron.
The ceremonial journey — led by Sharon Manitowabi, Zaagimok-kwe, Bear Clan, from Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory — is titled "The Water is Calling: Naadowewi-Gichigami Route 2024" and will cover a distance of 1,767 km.
"In 2003, Grandmother Josephine Mandamin-baa led the first Water Walk - a traveling ceremony that would later be carried out across North America," a news release says. "This year, the Grandmothers walk to honor request and to uphold the sacred tradition she established."
The walk began on July 21 on St. Joseph's Island. Now on Day 23, they've already made their way around Georgian Bay, through southern Ontario, crossed the border into the United States and started the day in Standish, Michigan.
They aim to conclude their journey on Day 30 in DeTour, Michigan.
"We walk to honor Nibi (water) and the spirits of water as our ancestors did. We pray for the return of healthy rivers, lakes, and oceans for future generations,” stated the Grandmothers.
Find the full news release from The Water is Calling below:
A dedicated group of Anishinaabe Grandmothers are set to embark on a series of Water Walks over the next four years, traversing their traditional home waters, The Great Lakes. This year's journey, titled "The Water is Calling: Naadowewi-Gichigami Route 2024," will cover a distance of 1,767 km around Lake Huron. For more details, visit www.thewateriscalling.org.
In 2003, Grandmother Josephine Mandamin-baa led the first Water Walk - a traveling ceremony that would later be carried out across North America. This year, the Grandmothers walk to honor request and to uphold the sacred tradition she established. Each step taken is a prayer, turning this walk into a powerful ceremony. Participants will learn about Nibi (water) in a sacred manner, sharing water teachings and stories with youth and families. This initiative also aims to raise awareness of the Walkers' mission - to honor and protect Great Lakes' freshwater - among non-Indigenous communities along the route.
The journey commenced on July 21, 2024 on St. Joseph's Island, Ontario, and will conclude in 30 days in DeTour, Michigan. Once complete, the Grandmothers will have walked the full circumference of Naadowewi-Gichigami (Lake Huron), crossing the Canada-US border. The Water is Calling is led by Sharon Manitowabi, Zaagimok-kwe, Bear Clan, from Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory.
This ceremonial walk around Naadowewi-Gichigami marks the first in a series of walks through the traditional home waters of the Anishinaabe, the Great Lakes. To follow the Grandmothers' journey, view the live route map linked our website, which is refreshed every 10 minutes.
"We walk to honor Nibi (water) and the spirits of water as our ancestors did. We pray for the return of healthy rivers, lakes, and oceans for future generations,” stated the Grandmothers. This walk emphasizes treating water with kindness and respect.
Community members along the route are invited to show their solidarity with the Grandmothers and other walkers, or to join them for any distance as they pass through various communities. The walk began on July 21st on St. Joseph's Island and they are currently in Michigan.
Water is a unifying force that connects us all. This walk not only promotes the protection of water but also fosters opportunities for active truth and reconciliation. It encourages us to rectify our carelessness and strengthen our relationships with the Waters, Lands, and all of Creation. The ceremonial movement of the Water Walk honors Nibi’s (Water’s) gift of life, reminding us that without Water, nothing would survive. It is a call to protect Water for future generations, because Water is Life.
Further details on the expected schedule,water walk protocols, and how to donate to the initiative can be found at our website, The Water is Calling. This journey is supported by the NORDIK Institute.