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Come Walk in My Moccasins Newsletter July 2025 |
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In this Issue:
Books: Nibi is Water, Nibi's Water Song, Nibi Emosaawdang / The Water Walker, Theory of Water: Nishaabe Maps to the Times Ahead Our Music: Algonquin Water Song Our Words: Three Words Our Stories: Josephine Mandamin: Grandmother Water Walker Our Traditions: Water Walk 2025 Our Recipe: Raspberry Bread
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Did you know...
...The Mother Earth Water Walk was started in 2003 by Josephine Mandamin-ba, an Anishinaabe grandmother. She and a small group of adults from different clans wanted to raise awareness of their relationship to the waters. In April 2003, Nokomis and the Mother Earth Walkers began their first walk for water. Nokomis was inspired by a prophecy of a Chief and walked in all kinds of weather. Nokomis walked for all life on Earth…trees, birds, plants, insects, animals, your family, and cared deeply about the health of the water for all future generations.
In this work for Water, the women lead the ceremony, carrying a copper vessel filled with water from one place to the next. The water walkers continually carried and moved the water throughout the early morning and into the afternoon. Josephine Mandamin-ba and others walked to call attention to the importance of taking care of the waters of the Great Lakes, not for themselves but for generations to come. |
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| Nibi is Water
Infant and Toddler
A first conversation about the importance of Nibi—which means water in Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe)—and our role to thank, respect, love, and protect it. Babies and toddlers can follow Nibi as it rains and snows, splashes or rows, drips and sips. Written from an Anishinaabe water protector’s perspective, the book is in dual language—English and Anishinaabemowin. (excerpt from Strongnations.com)
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| Nibi's Water Song
Preschool and Kindergarten
Nibi is the Anishinabemowin word for water. In Nibi’s Water Song, Nibi is an Indigenous girl on the search for clean water to drink. Though she is faced with repeated obstacles, Nibi’s joyful and determined energy becomes a catalyst for change and action as her community rallies around her to make clean drinking water available for all. (excerpt from Strongnations.com) |
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| Nibi Emosaawdang / The Water Walker
Primary
This dual-language edition contains a note on the book's translation into Anishinaabemowin by Shirley Williams -- a fellow water walker -- and Isadore Toulouse, both of whom are from Josephine-ba's home community of Wiikwemkoong Unceded First Nation. The translations draw special meaning from the fact that both Shirley and Nokomis were sent to residential school, where they were forbidden from speaking their language. Nokomis was able to read the translation before her passing, and took great joy in the fact that this book would now be shared in Anishinaabemowin. (excerpt from Strongnations.com) |
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| Theory of Water : Nishnaabe Maps to the Times Ahead
Teen and Adult
For many years, Leanne Betasamosake Simpson took solace in skiing—in all kinds of weather, on all kinds of snow across all kinds of terrain, often following the trail beside a beloved creek near her home. Recently, as she skied on this path against the backdrop of uncertainty, environmental devastation, rising authoritarianism and ongoing social injustice, her mind turned to the water in the creek and an elemental question: What might it mean to truly listen to water? To know water? To exist with and alongside water? So began a quest to understand her people’s historical, cultural, and ongoing interactions with water in all its forms (ice, snow, rain, perspiration, breath). Pulling together these threads, Leanne began to see how a “Theory of Water” might suggest a radical rethinking of relationships between beings and forces in the world today. In this inventive work, Simpson draws on Nishnaabeg origin stories and her own deep thinking while artfully weaving the work of influential writers and artists alongside her personal memories and experience—and in doing so, reimagines water as a catalyst for radical transformation, capable of birthing a new world. Theory of Water is a resonant and brilliant exploration of an intricate, multi-layered relationship with the most abundant element on our planet—one that, as Simpson eloquently shows, is shaping our present even as it demands a radical rethinking of how we might achieve a just future. (excerpt from Goodminds.com) |
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| Algonquin Water Song
Diane sings the Algonquin Water Song. (2:31 minute video) |
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| Three Words
Beginner and advanced language learners share three Indigenous words. Language is connection and a beautiful way to keep our cultures alive. What three words have you learned today? (2:54 minute video) |
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| Josephine Mandamin: Grandmother Water Walker
Josephine Mandamin-ba was the founder of Mother Earth Water Walkers movement. Hear about her legacy and her work to save water, which nourishes us all in this video. (5:07 minute video) |
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| Water Walk 2025
This video was made prior to the departure of the Kingston to Tyendinaga Water Walk 2025. Lisa shares what it means to walk for the water. (1:40 minute video) |
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| Raspberry Bread
Kennedy shares a recipe for raspberry bread. |
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Indigenous Language Resources |
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| Mohawk Language Learning Resource This open education resource (OER) may be used a supplementary resource to learning the Mohawk language at the beginner level. In the first part of the OER, the basic morphology, of the language is introduced through pronouns, pronoun prefixes, particles, and verb roots. The second part introduces vocabulary builders. Finally, in the third part, basic conversational language is explored.
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Language Resources created with the intention of learning and developing your knowledge of the Michif language. The resources featured are trilingual including the following languages; Michif, French, and English.
Anishnaabemowin - Our Language Our Culture
Ojibwa language booklet
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Tsi Tyónnheht Onkwawén:na provides Mohawk language and culture programming at the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory (the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte). They run several programs, including Totáhne (At Grandma's House) for preschool children, Kawenna'ón:we Primary Immersion (K-4) and Shatiwennakará:tats, a year long program for Adults. |
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Free Anishinaabemowin printable resources, lesson plans, and videos to help learn the language |
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| NEW! Ohné:ka Healing Project Educator's Resource Guide Created by Abraham Francis and Dr. Sarah Konwahahawi Rourke in collaboration with the Indigenous Arts Collective, designed to reconnect youth and communities with traditional teachings and the sacred responsibility to Water. |
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| NEW! Pow Wow Etiquette Everyone is welcome at a Pow Wow! It is a celebration of Indigenous culture. If it is your first time attending, please become familiar with Pow Wow etiquette. Miigwech Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe for creating this resource. |
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| Nurturing Childhoods Through Indigenous Ways of Knowing Explore teachings, strategies, and resources that guide the inclusion of Indigenous ways of knowing in early learning environments. This is a FREE online course provided by the University of British Columbia. |
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| Toronto Zoo- Turtle Island Conservation Toronto Zoo's Turtle Island Conservation programme (TIC) respectfully shares the hopes and goals of First Nation partners in our committment to the preservation of biodiversity. TIC partners with First Nation communities to preserve community knowledge and significant natural and cultural landscapes.
Resources available in Ojibwe and Mohawk. |
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| Beauty in Movement: An Indigenous Guide to Physical Activity Pamphlet about the importance of physical activity and ideas to get children moving
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Sources for Indigenous books:
Indigenous Book Lending:
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| Strawberry Social, Kingston, ON Saturday, July 12 |
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| Indigenous Languages Walks, Kingston, ON Tuesday afternoons in July |
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| | Water Walk, Kingston to Ottawa, ON August 1 - 4 |
| | We need YOU!
Help us become more inclusive of the many First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples among our readership. Share an Indigenous recipe, song, or traditional art through Come Walk in My Moccasins. Contact kahwatsire@mbq-tmt.org if you are interested in becoming a guest contributor.
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| | Indigenous Family Literacy Circle Partners:
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| Come Walk in My Moccasins is created by the Indigenous Family Literacy Circle and sponsored by Journey Together through Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte. Click here to download or print the Come Walk in My Moccasins pamphlet. |
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Copyright 2016 Indigenous Family Literacy Circle 465 Advance Avenue, Napanee, Canada | |
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