Mandamin Family Blanketing Ceremony held at Anishinabek Nation Fall Assembly

November 28, 2019

During Day 1 of the fall Grand Council Assembly in London, Regina Mandamin and her brother Waasemon Niin were part of the Kwe-Wuk Council Blanketing Ceremony acknowledging their mother, late Josephine Mandamin and former Anishinabek Nation Chief Water Commissioner. – Photo by Laura Barrios

By Victoria Racette

LONDON— On Day One of the Anishinabek Nation Fall Assembly held from Nov. 5-6 in London, Ont., the Anishinabek Nation Kwe-Wuk Advisory Council and Social Development Department held a traditional Blanketing Ceremony to honour the late Josephine Mandamin, Water Walker and former Anishinabek Nation Chief Water Commissioner.

“Josephine has touched the lives of so many,” said Adrienne Pelletier, Director of Social Development for the Anishinabek Nation. “As a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a friend, a teacher, an advocate and a role model; it was an honour to gift her children with these blankets, in her memory.”

Kwe-Wuk Advisory Council members, Marina Plain, Nora Sawyer, Donna Debassige and Veronica Waboose, blanketed Josephine’s daughter, Regina Mandamin and her son, Waasekom Niin. During the Ceremony, the Eagle Flight Drum filled the room with a beautiful honour song for Josephine and her family.

“Receiving the blanket was a huge honour and reminded me of how much my mother was loved by the Anishinabek Nation leadership and communities,” said Regina. “It was a beautiful ceremony and our family appreciates the gifting of the blanket. It also reminded us of the impact she had on the community and people that she connected with.”

Josephine, citizen of Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory, dedicated her life to protecting the water and giving it a voice. It was her life’s mission to share her message with the world – that water is a precious, sacred, basic element required for all life to exist. Water is life.

As the Chief Commissioner of the Anishinabek Nation Women’s Water Commission, she was a prominent contributor and leader of the Great Lakes Guardians’ Council, established under the Great Lakes Protection Act.

“My mother would want people to continue the work that needs to be done for our communities, the well-being of Mother Earth and of the water,” added Regina. “Just because she is not here physically, it does not mean that her work for the water has ended – she always wanted the people to build a relationship with water and to ensure its protection for future generations.”