By Amanda Perreault, Founder, Lynx Clan Watch
On World Water Day, we are reminded that water is not just a resource—it is a relative. It gives life to our communities, our lands, and our spirits. In Anishinaabe teachings, water is sacred. It holds memory, spirit, and medicine. And as women, we carry a traditional responsibility to protect it.
At Lynx Clan Watch, our work is rooted in land and water defense, honouring the guidance of Elders and the strength of generations of matriarchs. We do not separate the fight for clean water from the fight for justice—it is all part of the same sacred circle.
Water is Sacred in Our Teachings
From the time we are young, we are taught to give thanks to Nibi (water). We offer tobacco to the rivers and lakes. We sing water songs in ceremony. These are not just traditions—they are acts of resistance. They remind us that colonial laws and industry interests cannot override our inherent responsibilities to the land and water.
Yet, despite this deep respect, water continues to be treated as a commodity rather than a living being. Pipelines, pollution, mining runoff—these threaten the lifeblood of our nations. And the ones who suffer most are often the ones whose voices are ignored.
From Source to Tap: We Are All Connected
Whether you live in downtown Thunder Bay or on a remote northern reserve, your life depends on clean, safe, accessible water. But the reality is, dozens of First Nations across Canada still live under boil water advisories, and many have for decades. This is not just a policy failure—it is a violation of basic human rights.
When we allow some communities to go without clean water, we erode the health of the entire ecosystem. Water connects us all—what happens upstream affects those downstream. Protecting water is not just an Indigenous issue—it is a human one.
The Crisis in Our Communities is Real
At Lynx Clan Watch, we’ve walked with communities in Treaty 9, along the rivers of Northern Ontario, and near the Great Lakes. We’ve listened to mothers who are afraid to bathe their children in tap water. We’ve stood beside youth who wonder why their schools don’t have drinkable water.
We don’t need more apologies. We need action.
The federal government made promises to end long-term boil water advisories—but many remain. Infrastructure is only part of the solution. True water justice means Indigenous governance over water systems, culturally rooted education, and long-term funding—not just crisis response.
Water Protection is Women’s Work—and Everyone’s Responsibility
On this World Water Day, I lift up the voices of the Water Walkers, the aunties and grandmothers who carry the copper pails and offer their prayers. These women lead with love, and their courage is a lesson to us all.
But this work cannot rest on women alone. Water defense is a shared responsibility. Governments, corporations, municipalities, and individuals—we all have a role to play. That means challenging destructive policies, defending Indigenous rights, and making space for community-led solutions.
To truly honour water, we must move beyond symbolism. Let World Water Day be more than hashtags and headlines. Let it be the day we commit to action, protection, and transformation.
Because Water is Life. And life cannot wait.
