“water is life because water is spirit, and without spirit we have no life” - Ellen White (Coast Salish, Suneymuxw First Nation)

“All people need to come together to make a shift in the way we are living with and treating water.”
- Jean Aquash O’Chiese, Ojibway, Southwestern ON, Lake Erie

“Water is sacred. Water is regarded as sacred and is often used in ceremonies.
It is a powerful medicine and must be respected as such. It has life-giving properties. We need water to live.”
Chiefs of Ontario. (2008). Water declaration of Anishinabeabek, Mushkegowuk and Onkwehonwe in Ontario. Toronto, ON: Author.more.

“Water is a relative. Not only is water alive and infused with spirit; it is a relative. One speaks to water as one would a relative, with caring and compassion. Water is not a commodity to be bought and sold. It is to be revered and treated with respect and dignity."  Chiefs of Ontario. (2008). Water declaration of Anishinabeabek, Mushkegowuk and Onkwehonwe in Ontario. Toronto, ON: Author.

“In the water ceremony we make an offering to water, to acknowledge its life-giving forces and to pay respect. We have a responsibility to take care of the water, and this ceremony reminds us to do it. Women bring forth life, the life of the people. Water brings forth life also, and we have a special role to play in this responsibility that we share with water.” (Akii Kwe in McGregor & Whitaker, 2001)

“I remember when the dew came. Like when the coolness of the upper world meets the warmth of the earth, it forms the dew and the mist. And the old people said “That’s Father Sky and Mother Earth mating.” They are mating now. And now these little droplets of water will come down and they will water the earth so everything will grow. Isn’t that beautiful? So they would say “go out there and take the mist or the dew and rub it on your skin because that’s spiritual growth.”
Jan Longboat, Mohawk, Southern ON, Grand River