Indigenous learning and teachings

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Content on this page approved by Elder Shirley Wiliams from Wikwemikong Unceded Territory.

Nibi E-mosaawdamojig – the Water Walkers and the Sacred Water Circle are two organizations that work together to educate and create awareness through various means about the need to protect our most precious resource – water. 

These organizations are the result of the continual efforts by some remarkable women. Elder Shirley Williams belongs to and works with both organizations.

Elder Williams prepared and provided permission to use a PowerPoint presentation she created for Fleming students in 2019. The slide presentation is embedded below. Scroll through this powerful talk full of information, spiritual teachings, and the research and conclusions by Dr. Masaru Emoto and visual information including many photographs.

For additional background on this topic listen to the CBC Live Radio episode below aired on April 21, 2023 in which Elder Williams shares her message on why Water is Sacred:

Unreserved with Rosanna Deerchild - April 21, 2023: Water is sacred.

On April 5th, 2010 Trent Chancellor Dr. Tom Jackson delivered a dynamic opening address at the two-hour Community Workshop on Water Matters: Protecting, Conserving and Sharing Our Water on April 5th, 2010.  He opened the workshop with the simple statement: “Without Water We Die”. 

Trent University Dreamcatcher

Indigenous communities have historically recognized the importance of water protection and water conservation:

Water is the most life sustaining gift on Mother Earth and is the interconnection among all living beings.  Water sustains us, flows between us, within us, and replenishes us.  Water is the blood of Mother Earth and, as such, cleanses not only herself, but all living things.  Water comes in many forms and all are needed for the health of Mother Earth and for our health.  The sacred water element teaches us that we can have great strength to transform even the tallest mountain while being soft, pliable, and flexible.  Water gives us the spiritual teaching that we too flow into the Great Ocean at the end of our life journey.  Water shapes the land and gives us the great gifts of the rivers, lakes, ice, and oceans.  Water is the home of many living things that contribute to the health and well-being of everything not in the water.

….  As Indigenous peoples, First Nations recognize the sacredness of our water, the interconnectedness of all life and the importance of protecting our water from pollution, drought and waste (Assembly of First Nations – Honouring Water).

One of the expert panelists at the 2010 Water Matters workshop was Professor Emeritus Shirley Williams who argued for the recognition and need to include spirituality in science. “Everything has a spirit,” she said. “From the trees to the plants and to the water.”

Shirley is a member of the Bird Clan of the Ojibway and Odawa First Nations of Canada. Her Anishinaabe name is Migizi ow Kwe meaning Eagle Woman. She was born and raised at Wikwemikong, Manitoulin Island and attended St. Joseph’s Residential School in Spanish, Ontario. She holds several degrees, including a BA in Native Studies, a Native Language Instructors Program diploma, a Masters in Environmental Studies, and an honorary Ph.D. for her outstanding achievement in post-secondary education pedagogy, her advocacy of Indigenous language teaching, and her ongoing inspirational community leadership. Retired in 2004 after 18 years teaching at Trent University and 18 summers for Lakehead University for NLIP, she serves as an Elder for numerous organizations, including Trent University and Sir Sandford Fleming. She continues to teach part-time at Trent University and other educational institutions. She also advises the Chiefs of Ontario and Aboriginal Physicians of Canada on health programming. Her work has resulted in significant service delivery changes in Sudbury’s major regional healthcare centres and, most recently, Toronto General Hospital.

She has worked with Williams Consulting and Andrea J Williams since 1984.

In the audience was Dr. William’s niece, Liz Osawamick: 

Elizabeth (Liz) Osawamick is an Anishinaabe Midewiwin-kwe community leader, Water Walker/activist, jingle dress dancer, devoted parent and professional teacher. She is President of Anishnaabemowin Teg, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting, teaching and developing Anishnaabe language and cultural pride.

During  the Water Matters workshop both Shirley and Liz, who have shared Traditional Anishinaabe Water Teachings with the Peterborough community, were inspired by the water walking journeys and teachings of the late Josephine Mandamin to create local Water Awareness Walks.