Letter to the editor: Water walkers protecting Lakes Simcoe, Couchiching
We are pleased to announce the Waawaasegaming Water Walk 2014. It will start June 21st at Georgina Island and will be going around both Lake Simcoe and Lake Couchiching.
The Waawaasegaming Water Walk 2014 is aiming to raise money for an emergency response plan for accidental spills on either of the lakes. In 2005 there was a spill of gas in the bay south of Georgina Island and it was a difficult process to co-ordinate a clean-up. Money will be used to purchase clean up supplies and to provide training to emergency response teams around the lakes.
Money will also be needed for expenses such as food, gas for drivers, a media campaign, etc. for the walk.
This walk is being held in the same spirit of the Mother Earth Water Walks that have taken place around the Great Lakes and from all of the oceans surrounding them. It has been requested by Grandmother Josephine Mandamin of the Three Fires Lodge, and founding Chief Commissioner of the Anishinabek Women’s Water Commission.
Waawaasegaming is the original name of the lake known as Simcoe and this walk will be the beginning of an effort to reclaim its original name. We will also be educating on the meaning of the name of its sister lake, Couchiching.
The organizers of Waawaasegaming Water Walk invite people from all Nations to walk with us as we do prayer and ceremony in the Anishinaabe way. You can sign up for walking for the length of time of your choosing as there will be a core group who will walk the entire distance carrying the water in a copper kettle as instructed.
This is an exciting event in the history of Lake Simcoe and Couchiching and I look forward to giving you more details about the walk.
http://www.motherearthwaterwalk.com/
Articles written in the Lake Simcoe Living magazine by Becky Big Canoe can be read at the links below:
Sincerely,
Becky Big Canoe Georgina Island FN bigcanoeb@gmail.com