Rhiannon Johnson

Josephine Mandamin, a&nbsp;well known environmental activist&nbsp;from&nbsp;Wikwemikong&nbsp;First Nation in Ontario,&nbsp;died Friday morning.&nbsp;She was 77.&nbsp;

​In 2003, concerned about the pollution of rivers and lakes, she co-founded 

. She&nbsp;eventually circumnavigated the shores of all five Great Lakes, a total distance of more than&nbsp;17,000 km.

"As women, we are carriers of the water. We carry life for the people," Mandamin said in 2016.

"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."

Trekking the Great Lakes on foot to raise awareness about water pollutants

Raising awareness about water pollutants, Josephine Mandamin is one of two Anishinawbe grandmothers who have walked around every single Great Lake, along the St. Lawrence River and many other areas that were traditional First Nation territory.

Two Anishinawbe grandmothers have walked around every single Great Lake, along the St. Lawrence River and many other areas that were traditional First Nation territory, since starting the marathon water walks back in 2003.

Mother Nature Water Walk

Wikwemikong's Josephine Mandamin honoured for conservation excellence

A First Nations elder who has “walked the equivalent of half the earth’s circumference” to build awareness about pollution, laws, fracking, and the selling of the water, is being honoured today in Toronto.

Elder Josephine Mandamin has walked countless miles, dedicated to carrying the copper vessel of water with her, in an effort to raise "awareness about pollution, laws, fracking, and the selling of the water."

Josephine Mandamin

Mandamin&nbsp;leaves behind her husband, eight children,&nbsp;13&nbsp;grandchildren and 16&nbsp;great-grandchildren.&nbsp;She was the great-aunt of youth activist Autumn&nbsp;Peltier, who also campaigns for&nbsp;water protection.

Family member Stephanie&nbsp;Peltier&nbsp;wrote on&nbsp;Facebook&nbsp;on Friday that&nbsp;"Biidasige&nbsp;aka Josephine was an amazing teacher that opened that path for us to stand up for our water and Mother Earth."

Canadian teen tells UN 'warrior up' to protect water

Autumn Peltier, a 13-year-old from Manitoulin Island on Georgian Bay, delivered a strong message to the United Nations General Assembly that the world needs to stop polluting its water.

Canadian water activist Autumn Peltier, a 13-year-old from Manitoulin Island, addresses the UN General Assembly on world water day, March 22, 2018. Her plea to protect the world's water was part of the UN's launch of the International Decade for Action, Water for Sustainable Development.

Autumn Peltier

Canadian water activist Autumn Peltier, a 13-year-old from Manitoulin Island, addresses the UN General Assembly on world water day. Her plea to protect the world's water was part of the UN's launch of the International Decade for Action on Water for Sustainable Development.

Madamin&nbsp;served as the head of the&nbsp;Anishinabek&nbsp;Women's Water Commission. She and the Water Walks group received the&nbsp;Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Award&nbsp;for Excellence in Conservation in 2016.

The story of&nbsp;Mandamin's&nbsp;water walks&nbsp;was told in a children's book called 

by Joanne Robertson, published in 2017.&nbsp;

Autumn Peltier, far right, sits by the water with her sister, great aunt Josephine Mandamin, and mother. 

"We have lost a great advocate, teacher, and role model," said Glen Hare, Grand Chief of the Anishinabek&nbsp;Nation, of which Wikwemikong is a member.&nbsp;

"She will be so deeply missed by all and will be fondly remembered for all of what she did to protect the water."

In a statement issued Friday, Carolyn Bennett, minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations said Mandamin "taught all of us of the fragility of water, and the risks that exist to the health and sustainability of our waterways."

"The important work she started through Mother Earth Water Walk and the Great Lakes Guardians' Council lays the foundation for the future of the Great Lakes Waterways, and for the next seven generations of water walkers and water warriors from across Turtle Island," she said. 

"She has touched many of our lives and we are truly grateful to have gained knowledge and wisdom from this inspirational woman and her life's work."

Mandamin's funeral took place Monday&nbsp;in Wikwemikong&nbsp;First Nation.

A photo from the initial Mother Nature Water Walk around Lake Superior in 2003.

Josephine Mandamin, water activist who walked 17,000 km around the Great Lakes, dies at 77

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