Josephine Mandamin was an Anishinaabe Elder, water-rights advocate, and Chief Water Commissioner for the Anishinabek Nation. She was famously known as the “Grandmother Water Walker”. In an incredible journey that lasted from 2003 to 2017, she walked around the Great Lakes. Mandamin, also known as Biidaasige-ba, means “the one who comes with the light,” aimed to raise awareness about water pollution issues and environmental degradation affecting Canada’s Great Lakes and Indigenous reserves. Her legacy remains, and she left an indelible mark as a champion of clean water and environmental conservation.
Mandamin’s tireless activism was recognized with the Anishinabek Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012 and the Governor General’s Meritorious Service Cross in 2018. Her legacy goes beyond these awards; it laid the foundation for a new generation of advocates who stress the sacred bond between Indigenous peoples and water.
Autumn Peltier, the great-niece of Mandamin, has become a powerful advocate for clean water. Her journey as a Waterkeeper started when she was only eight years old, inspired by her great-aunt’s dedication. Peltier hails from Wiikwemkoong First Nation on Manitoulin Island in Lake Huron, where she has witnessed water-related challenges first-hand. This has motivated her to work hard towards addressing the issue of water inequality.
At 12, Peltier became known worldwide when she confronted the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau. She presented him with a ceremonial copper water bowl and, with tears in her eyes, expressed her dissatisfaction with the government’s broken promises to Indigenous people and the approval of fossil-fuel pipelines. “I am very unhappy with the choices you’ve made,” she told him. Peltier’s words embodied the frustration of a generation that faces environmental threats.
The torch passing from Mandamin to Peltier symbolizes a pattern of Indigenous solidarity that persists across generations. It represents a collective effort to address one of the most fundamental human rights issues – access to clean water. Peltier’s journey is not an isolated incident but a part of a broader movement where Indigenous women play an essential role in advocating for environmental justice.
Joy SpearChief-Morris, an Indigenous Black Canadian journalist and former athlete, adds her voice to this narrative through her work. A proud member of the Kainai Blood Tribe who grew up in Lethbridge, Alberta, she is the author of the article; she confronted Justin Trudeau when she was 12. Now Autumn Peltier has a new message, published in the Toronto Star, highlighting Peltier’s journey. SpearChief-Morris contributes to the ongoing conversation about Indigenous rights, environmental issues, and the importance of clean water across Nations.
Mandamin, Peltier, and SpearChief-Morris are three Indigenous activists who have shown the power of collective action. Mandamin’s foundational work, Peltier’s activism, and SpearChief-Morris’s journalism create a harmonious synergy that amplifies the urgency of their cause. Their collaboration showcases a pattern of Indigenous solidarity that transcends geographical and generational boundaries, embodying the principles of Wahkohtowin, emphasizing kinship, and fostering intergenerational camaraderie and inter-tribal advocacy.
By coming together and working towards a common goal, these women shine a light on an essential human right: access to clean water. Their dedication and courage inspire others to join the call for environmental justice and ensure Indigenous communities’ voices are heard and respected globally. Their efforts serve as a beacon of hope for a better, more equitable world.
In honouring the legacies of Mandamin, Peltier, and SpearChief-Morris, we witness a continuum of advocacy, an unbroken chain of resilience that binds together Indigenous women across generations and Nations, working harmoniously to safeguard the sacred bond between their communities and the life-giving waters.