Georgian Bay Water Walk 2013
Wednesday, July 17th, 2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE- Beausoleil
First Nation Territory
The Mnidoo Gaaming Bimooseyang Water Walk lasted 17 days, starting at Cedar Point, Ontario on June 21st, 2013 and concluding at Cedar Point, Ontario on July 7th, 2013 went a total distance of 787 KM around Georgian Bay.
The objectives of this walk were to:
1) Raise
awareness about declining water levels in Georgian Bay
2) Pray
for the water and give thanks, keeping in mind the ancestors before us.
3) Build
unity amongst all people who share in Georgian Bay regardless of age, race or
gender.
4) Sharing
with all the true name of Georgian Bay, Spirit Lake, Minidoo Gaaming.
5) Visit
many of the sacred places that Anishinabe people gathered.
Prayers were offered in the morning and night and along
each step of the walk for healing of lands, waters, and air, as well as healing
for all the people and the mind, body and spirit. Walkers connected with people
in every community from Collingwood, to Owen Sound to Little Current, to Parry
Sound. The walk was supported by 10 First Nation Communities and many sacred
places were visited, histories were shared. Special thanks to all the elders who shared
their teachings, lifted their pipes and prepared ceremony for the walker in all
the communities on the journey.
It was truly an honour for all to take part in this work
for the water. It is safe to say that all objectives of this walk were met and
exceeded, lasting connections were formed. While the walk has concluded, the
work for water must and will continue, we will now move forward more
determined and more connected. We will work together to ensure this life
source, Minidoo Gaaming, will forever flow for all future generations.
THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING FOR MAKING THIS WALK A
SUCCESS:
For helping Anishinabe Kwe remember her work for water,
we give thanks to Grand Chief Eddie Benton-Beniase and Ogimaa Kwe Leona Stevens
and all those of the Three Fires Midewiwin Lodge.
For the original vision of Water Walks, we give forever
thanks too Josephine Mandamin and all those who helped with the Mother Earth
Water Walks. A special thank-you goes to Doreen Day for the composition of the
Water Song that we constantly offered along our journey.
To the community of Beausoleil First Nation who were the
inspiration of this walk, for all you have all had to endure the most with low
water levels, for every time you had to get on the boat clinging to the ramps
in order to not fall, you have sacrificed for us all. Also, thank you to all the members of
Beausoleil First Nation who came out to support the walkers in their return to
Cedar Point.
Special thank you to Grand Council Chief Patrick
Madahbee.
Chi-Miigwech to:
Individual contributors:
1. The
Late Karen Manitowabi
2. The
Men and Women of Wikwemikong who brought water from the 4 directions of Mnidoo
Mnissing
3. Nookmis
Donna Debassige
4. Shayne
Shawongonabe
5. Hector
Copegog
6. Leon
and Mary Jane King
7. Gloria
King
8. Elder
Lawrence Pawis and Norine Pamajewon
9. Elder
Lila Tabobondung
10. Peggy
and Monikka McGregor
11. Elders
Gordan and Pearl Waindubence
12. Edward
Mixemong
13. Margaret
White
14. Chief
Roland Monague, Beausoleil
15. Chief
Councillor Joanne Sandy
16. Chief
Pomossige Shining Turtle, Whitefish River First Nation
17. Chief
Wayne Pamajewon, Shawanaga First Nation
18. Councillor
Anne Pamajewon, Shawanaga First Nation
19. Kathleen
Padlo
20. Nathan
Keeshig and Family
21. Sue
Chiblow
22. Richard
Banigan
23. Nadine
and Randy Kidd
24. Mskwaankwaat
Rice
25. John
Rice
26. Aileen
Rice
27. Christine
King
28. Jeff
Monague
29. Keegan
Keeshig
30. Liz
Eshkibok
31. The
Women of the Georgian Bay United Church
32. Peter
Recollet
33. Mayor
Gord McKay of Midland
34. Mayor
Scott Warnock of Tiny Township
35. Mayor
Gerry Marshall of Penetanguishene
36. Marla
Monague
37. Ontario
Regional Chief Stan Beardy
38. Dave
Hueson, Bev, Julie and Jane at the First Nations Cairn in Georgian Bay
Township.
39. Angela
Haskill-Kym
40. Jayne
Monague
41. Jeff
Skye
42. Reg
Wesley
43. Alex
Malcolm
44. Mark
Lafrance
45. Jeff
Lavalley
46. Corey
Jones
47. Mary
Ann Wilhem
48. Maurice
Switzer
49. Linda
Roy
50. Bruce
McComber
51. Brian
Charles
52. Carol
Grant
53. Rama
Women’s Church Group
54. Curtis
Assance
55. Travis
and Candice King
56. Sheri
Charlebois
57. Kathy
St. Amant
58. Carol
Pegmahgabow
59. Wakauman
Pawis
60. Sharon
Weatherall
61. Community
Members of Whitefish River First Nation who drove the boat from Whitefish to
Killarney.
Organizations:
1. The
Georgian Bay Native Women’s Association
2. The
Union of Ontario Indians/Anishinabek Nation
3. The
Christian Island United Church
4. Henvey
Inlet First Nation, Chief and Council, Community Members
5. Wasauksing
First Nations, Chief and Council, Community Members
6. White
Fish River First Nation, Chief and Council, Community Members
7. Shequiandah
First Nation, Chief and Council, Community Members
8. Shawanaga
First Nation, Chief and Council and Community Members
9. Beausoleil
First Nation, Chief and Council and Community Members
10. Naaywaashinggaming
First Nation & Community
11. Magentawan
First Nation and Community
12. Shawanaga
Healing Centre
13. Saugeen
First Nation & Community
14. Wahta
First Nation & Community
15. Wikwemikong
Community and Elders
16. All
Ontario Chiefs Conference
17. Serpent
River First Nation Youth
18. Georgian
Bay United Church, Rev. Gwen Nicol-McDonald
19. Mikwikwedong
Friendship Centre – Owen Sound
20. The
Great Lakes Commons
21. Simcoe
North NDP
22. Owen
Sound NDP
23. Chi-Gaamik
24. Wasse
Abin Junior School - Wikwemikong
25. Wasauksing
Language Camp
26. Stop
the Drop
27. Rama
United Church
28. Georgian
Bay Forever
29. Anishinabek
Police Service
30. Ontario
Provincial Police
31. Owen
Sound Area Women’s Drum Group
32. DNA
Fish and Chips
33. Chiefs
of Ontario
34. Union
of Ontario Indians Women’s Commission
35. Union
of Ontario Indians Water Commission
36. Ireva
Photography
37. Cape
Croker Wellness Centre and Staff
Those who walked:
1. Charles
Petatahgoose Jr.
2. Dylan
Monague
3. George
Steel
4. Vicky
King
5. Ronat
John
6. Nookmis
Shirley John
7. Mishomis
Ron John
8. Tania
Ritchie
9. Sheila
Elliot
10. Jorja
Elliot
11. Kathy
Hopson
12. Ken
Albert
13. Gloria
King
14. Joanne
Keeshig
15. John
Keeshig
16. Rebecca
Eamer-Smith
17. Deanna
Jones- Keeshig
18. Karl
Keeshig
19. Julia
Pegmahgabow
20. Chuck
Petatahgoose
21. Jessie
Pegmahgabow
22. Faith
Pegmahgabow
23. Tori
Cress
24. Marion
Kelly, Neegaaneese and Daamin
25. Deina
Bomberry
26. Kimaya
Pawis
27. Andrea
Pawis
28. Gary
Lediard
29. Erica
Martin
30. Jason
Martin
31. Ray
Deleary
32. Dawn
Estelle Deleary
33. Mike
Nadjiwon
34. Ashley
Nadjiwon
35. Spencer
Nadjiwon
36. Morgan
King
37. Johnathan
Trachen
38. Theodore
and Wife of Owen Sound
39. Aileen
Monague
40. Aimee
Grenier
41. Colin
Dobell
42. Nancy
Atwell
43. Luanna
Harper
44. Deb
Danard
45. Evan
Smith
46. Teresa
Burnett-Cole
47. Sage
Petatahgoose
48. Emma
Petatahgoose
49. Doreen
Keeshig
50. Journee
Keeshig
51. Nolan
Keeshig
52. Rosanne
Monague
53. Calista
Monague
54. Xavier
Monague
55. Ocean
Johnston
56. Ian
Akiwenzie
57. Lucas
Cress
58. Jeremy
King
59. B.
Jeff Monague
60. Alison
Bradshaw
61. Riannon
Bradshaw
62. Travis
King
63. Candice
Sawyer King
64. Travis
King Jr.
65. Kane
King
66. Meadow
King
67. Shelby
Shawongonabe
68. Shaylah
Shawongonabe
69. Jimelda
Johnson
70. Trish
Monague
71. Sara
Monague
72. Evan
Horrell
73. Laura
Lee Harris and Partner
74. Councillor
Anne Marie Prouxl , Neyaashingaming
75. Taylor
Judge
76. Sherrill
Judge
77. Patricia
Pawis
78. Kendra
Tabobondung-Pawis
79. Mary
Cadieux
80. Chastity
Pedonoquotte
81. Polly
Tobias Keeshig
82. Leigh
Akiwezie
83. Councillor
Dave Rice, Wasauksing
84. Tiffany
Taylor
85. Stacey
Monague
86. Todd
Copegog
87. April
Peltier
88. Joyce
Johnson
89. Alice
Ann Hussin
90. Trish
Meekins
91. Doris
Beardy
92. Amy
Dejarlais
93. Edith
Pawis
94. Brody
Pawis
95. Karen
Pegmahgabow
96. Kelly
King
97. Stan
Moses
98. Kiana
Moses
99. Debbie
Moses
100.
Percy Tabobondung
101.
Brenda Jackson
102.
Connie Doerksen
103.
Larissa Kidd
104.
Cody Blacksky
105.
Addison Moffat
106.
Arika Moffat
Thank you to all those who
followed the event on Facebook and Twitter, all the receiving communities,
supporters near and far. Thank you also to those who offered prayers.
For more information,
Please contact
vickimonague@gmail.com
705-828-4688
