Great spiritual significance has been placed on Georgetown for a sacred Indigenous ceremony that will take place next week.
On June 16, the Credit River Waterwalk begins its journey to honour and pray to the waters of the river and its surrounding regions.
The walk is a three-day undertaking where nibi (water) from Orangeville’s Island Lake will be gathered in a copper pail. A relay of participants will then carry the water on foot to be poured into the mouth of the Credit River in Port Credit, almost 60 km away in a straight line.
Several members of the Indigenous community will be inaugurating the walk at the John Elliott Theatre in Georgetown on June 15 at 10 a.m. Local residents are invited to the community welcome event to learn about the walk and help fundraise for essential expenses.
Organizers explain that the walk itself is not a protest, but rather a ceremony to strengthen the human relationship with the water.
“Water is life. And without water, we wouldn't be here,” said lead water walker Nodin Ikwe, whose English name is Mary Anne Caibaiosai. “You yourself were in your mother's womb for nine months. You're floating in water, your mother's water.”
“The rest of the world, the creation, all of the plants, all of what you call medicines, all of the fish, all of the birds would perish,” she emphasized.
Councillor Chantal Garneau is one of the organizers. This is the first of four years of the walk. Next year, they will carry the water in Halton Hills itself.
In preparation for this year’s rite, they have been performing ceremonies at Norval’s Willow Park Ecology Centre. In essence, they gathered to honour and affirm their love for the water.
Anyone can participate in the walk, as long as they observe certain protocols. Participants must offer tobacco to Nodin Ikwe, women must wear long skirts and dogs are not allowed. Those interested can join one of two groups. The core walkers are travelling the whole route. The community walkers can commit as much time as they are willing.
With the sky taking on a grey haze due to wildfires in the west and in Quebec, the lessons imparted through water walks are more important than ever to Nidon Ikwe.
“We've lost this connection to the land,” she said. “We no longer honour all of what we've been given. We don't tend to the water. We pollute the water. We pollute the land. The air is polluted. What's happening now is man's making.”
Further instructions will be provided at the community welcome event at the John Elliott Theatre. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased through the theatre's website. Those interested can also buy a $100 special ticket if they wish to give additional financial support.
More details can be found at creditriverwaterwalk.com.
