Review: The Water Walker

Review: The Water Walker

Written and Illustrated by Joanne Robertson

Reviewed By: Christine Miskonoodinkwe Smith

 

In this beautifully written and illustrated children’s book, we are all reminded of how important water is. Water (Nibi) is life. This book chronicles the journey of one Nokomis (Grandmother)- Josephine Mandamin and her quest to bring awareness of our need to protect Nibi for future generations.

It was through a dream that Nokomis foresaw the responsibility to protect the water (nibi) and gathered other women around to speak to them about this need. It was after getting together and discussing this that Nokomis and the Mother Earth Water Walkers walked around all the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River. They did this every spring for seven years, starting in 2003.

Mandamin (Nokomis) and the Mother Earth Water Walkers set off on each water walk saying “Nga-zhichige Nibi onji. I will do it for the water,” and praying for healing of our waters by saying “Water, we love you. We thank you. We respect you.”

By doing these water walks, Mandamin has inspired many other people and this book is another reminder to us that we must do everything we can to protect our waters, because without water, there is no life.

This book is great for young grade school students. You can learn more about Nokomis’ walks at www.motherearthwaterwalk.com

The book is published by Second Story Press, and a First Nations Communities Read winner of 2018 for juvenile literature.