Published on Oct 24, 2012

Published August 30th by Humans and Nature. 

Josephine Mandamin an Anishabaabewe grandmother with a copper pail of water in one hand and a staff in the other, took on a sacred walk, traversing over 10,900 miles around each of the Great Lakes. She is known as the “Water Walker.”

According to the Michigan Sea Grant, the Great Lakes shoreline is equal to almost 44% of the circumference of the earth.  “When you see someone walking with a pail of water, you wonder, where is she going with that water.”

So the message is, water is very precious, and I will go to any lengths to and direction to carry the water to the people.”

“As women, we are carriers of the water. We carry life for the people. So when we carry that water, we are telling people that we will go any lengths for the water. We’ll probably even give our lives for the water if we have to. We may at some point have to die for the water, and we don’t want that,” said Mandamin.

If you think technology is going to be the big fix to address the availability, use and conservation of water, you might want to give a close listen to the idea of a Water Ethic.

We witness the American dream crumble when Van Nguren, a Vietnamese nail salon worker, discovers her health problems, including two miscarriages, are the result of toxic chemicals in the products used in her salon. Van courageously becomes the first worker to testify in Congress against the cosmetic industry in over 30 years.

Painted Nailsenters the rich culture of Vietnamese-American Van Hoang's bustling nail salon in the Mission District of San Francisco. The salon caters to a diverse clientele, women of African American, European, Latino, and Asian ethnicities, who come not only for the acrylic nails with original design each a miniature painting that might include gold stars, glittering palm fronds, or frolicking blue dolphins, but also for the caring environment. The salon clients beam as they hold up their vividly colored talons for the camera, in a proud display of their identity as women. Produced and directed by Dianne Griffen. Associate producer and translator is Nhung Pham.

Website here. Published on Feb 9, 2016

Published on Feb 10, 2016

Published on Nov 6, 2015

Water is an element that can unite our Nations to serve a common purpose. 
     We are making an International Call to attend the Nibi Water Gathering at the Turtle Lodge, on the Shores of Lake Winnipeg, one of our most endangered lakes, where the four rivers meet, on June 4 and 5, 2015.
     At the Water Ceremony the Original People of Turtle Island (North America) will formally establish their leadership. The Nibi Water Gathering will coincide with the honouring of leaders in Earth stewardship, those who have been spiritually guided in their leadership, and the honouring of Youth completing their rites of passage to adulthood.
     It is our hope that People of all cultures will attend and make their gifts and offerings to the Water!

Video Produced on Location by Erica Daniels at Turtle Lodge and Manitou Api, copyright Turtle Lodge 2015. Water Song Credit to Mary Maytwayashing. Thunderbird Artwork Credit to Norval Morrisseau. Published on Jan 21, 2015