The Saugeen Ojibway Nation Water Walkers were honoured with a pot luck and feast at the James Mason Memorial Culture & Recreation Centre May 29.

Hub Staff

A 12 day 700 kilometre ceremonial Water Walk by members of Saugeen Ojibway Nation (SON), a collective of Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation and Saugeen First Nation, is on its last leg and walkers were honoured at a potluck and feast at the James Mason Memorial Culture & Recreation Centre May 29.

The event also welcomed Grandmother Josephine Mandamin and the 2017 For the Earth Water Walkers whose route, which follows the Great Lakes system, crossed paths with SON.

The SON Water Walk began Monday, May 22, at Noojimowaaning, the “Place of Healing,” and extends east from Lake Huron to the Nottawasaga River and south from the tip of the Bruce Peninsula to the Maitland River system, 11 miles south of Goderich, and will end on June 2.

Paisley Cozzarin, Communications Officer for SON Environment Office said a large part of the Water Walk is the assertion of SON as a Nation and as stewards of their territory. “That is so important because it’s a reassertion of SON’s responsibility to the water and the land,” said Cozzarin May 29.

Grandmother of the Water Walk Joanne Keeshig said that Water Walks are simple acts that get people involved. “Once you’re on the road it’s hard to come off.” Keeshig said they modelled their ceremonial walk after Mandamin. “[Mandamin’s] encouragement is for everyone to start doing this in their own territory, to look after the land, look after the water. She needs it, the water, the earth needs that. Human beings haven't been very kind to the earth, to the environment, so this is our wake up call, we need to start doing something that’s meaningful and purposeful,” said the Grandmother.

“In being Anishinaabe when you look at what our history has been in the past 600 years, residential schools, the government policies... it’s taken its toll on the people.” Keeshig added that the simple act of carrying water or holding an eagle staff fills Water Walkers with pride. “I’ve watched change in people that’ve joined the walk,” she said.

Keeshig said that shortly after the Walk began, she reflected that this was like walking in the footsteps SON’s ancestors and remembering them, with Keeshig admitting that the group feels them every day when they walk. “There is a need for us to know who we are as Anishinaabe people. To be able to remember what the teachings are... because they’re relevant in today’s world.” She said the 700 kilometre journey is also about self-exploration, but hopes ultimately that the youth will see and learn from what they're doing.

“My intent is more about the young people and getting them excited about being who they are as Anishinaabe because I won’t always be here... ‘this is your territory, you need to get excited about it and this is one way of doing it.’” Keeshig said that along the way First Nation people have felt a pull to join them, and while some have joined the group, others have provided them with food. She recalled when they passed Orangeville people approached them and spoke about the changing environment and how First Nation artifacts had been dug up as a result of condominium builds. Keeshig said that people are “seeing us” and it’s igniting a fire within.

“It’s been a long time coming for us,” said Keeshig. “To be able to stand up as stewards in our own territory, to actually be walking and working towards that means of remembering what it means to be Anishinaabe and have that role of caretaker of the land.”

People filled the Culture & Recreation Centre to listen to the men’s drum circle and traditional dance in honour of the Water Walkers May 29.

Saugeen First Nation youth during their traditional dance, May 29.

Grandmother of the SON Water Walk, Joanne Keeshig (right) and Grandmother Josephine Mandamin with the 2017 For the Earth and Water Walk before they broke bread at the potluck and feast May 29.