Group's walk along length of Grand River a chance to honour the water, spark conversations

Mary Anne Caibaiosai completed her four year commitment to walk the length of the Grand River from its source near Dundalk, to the mouth of the river in the Dunnville and Port Maitland area at Lake Erie and then back.

The All Nations Grand River Walk started out in 2018. Caibaiosai started out leading a core group of people that grew to a larger group for the two week journey that September. Each year, more people have joined the walk where they've met people in various communities who wanted to know more about what the group was doing.

Along the journey of the Grand River, the group performed ceremonies for the water which included prayer and singing to the water and offering intentions.

Caibaiosai is Bear clan Anishnaabe kwe from Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory, Manitoulin Island and said she was pleased to share the commitment of the Anishnaabe ceremony to stress that "water is life."

"Water represents the blood of Mother Earth and the water feeds all of the beings and the medicines and the birds," said Caibaiosai.

"From the Anishinaabe perspective, she nourishes and cleanses those parts of us, even when we go swimming or even when we go in there, we feel that healing …And so when we see the destruction or we we know that parts of the Grand [River] are being polluted and it's hard on us."

At times it was difficult to get to the riverbank because of industries such as farms, golf courses and tourism operators near the water and that forced them to alter their route.

"To get access to it, you actually have to find those places like parks in order to go down close and to do our ceremonies for the water," she said.

Caibaiosai says it was difficult to witness "the damage that was being done to the Grand River" with, not only the build up along the waterway, but the amount of garbage that was in the river.

With her four year commitment to this river walk ceremony complete, there is now talk of another walk that focuses on areas where dams have been built.

"We're witnessing our water is drying up," Caibaiosai said, adding she hopes her walks start conversations in the community.

"Really think about the water. Honour her and respect her and understand that, she's not always going to be here. And we're witnessing it. That's that's the most important message, is that we rely on her. And when she's gone, what next?"

LISTEN | Mary Anne Caibaiosai talks about the river walk on CBC KW's Morning Edition with Craig Norris: