Theresa Pitts, a member of the People of the Heart Water Walkers group, hosted the Portage Lake District Library storytime Wednesday. She holds Joanne Robertson’s “The Water Walker.”

Theresa Pitts visited the Portage Lake District Library Wednesday to host their children’s story time.

Pitts, a member of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, was acting in her capacity as a member of the People of the Heart Water Walkers group and read two stories about water walkers, making a splash with her young listeners through story, conversation and creativity.

Once the audience was settled, Pitts dove right into a discussion about water and its role in our lives. In detailing her experience as a water walker, Pitts drew attention to several objects. One was an everyday plastic water bottle, which she compared to her reusable bottle addressing the threats of pollution. She also showcased her medicine bag, which contains tobacco used in Anishinaabe ceremonies.

During water walks the tobacco is placed along the route in waterways and at the final destination.

This part of the ceremony Pitts tells the kids, “it’s like saying a prayer, it’s giving gratitude, to say thank you, thank you for this water.”

Last, but not least, Pitts showcased an example of a water vessel. Painted to emulate copper, a metal with healing properties, the vessel is used to “keep the water flowing along the route. The water must keep moving, as water does in nature. It does not stop moving the entire day. It is relayed from one walker to the next,” Pitts said.

A water protector, such as Josephine Mandamin, who was the main character in the first story, Joanne Robertson’s “The Water Walker,” is duty bound to preserve and protect water. Mandamin was a figure of high regard in the world of water walking. She began a walk around Lake Superior in 2003 that instigated many more walks to draw attention to threats and celebrate the importance of water. Mandamin passed away in 2019, but her legacy lives on in water walks and especially in future generations.

Pitts enacted this legacy in branching out to a younger generation. She cites the perspective of The Seven Generations teachings in Anishinaabe culture that each generation’s actions affects the next and so on.

“Working for water now and teaching our youth about the value of water is part of that,” Pitts said. “We hope to bring healing to water, and we hope the youth will carry the work forward for future generations.”  

Pitts shared a recording, with the children, of Nibi (water) Song. The recording was written and performed by Doreen Day, Anishinaabekwe from Boise Forte Reservation in northern Minnesota.

Pitts shared the words in English, “water we love you, we thank you, we respect you,” as the crowd of boisterous children was transfixed by the melody, and the sound of rushing water accompanying the recording.

Pitts read another story called “We are the Water Protectors” by Carole Lindstrom which addressed the reader in its final statement by asking “what will you do for the water?”

Story time attendees took the call to action by decorating their own water vessel with the help of Pitts, library staff and their parents.

Pitts mentioned that a water walk was already underway having started at dawn Wednesday morning. The Pauline Knapp-Spruce Memorial Water Walk is an annual walk to raise awareness on the state of our water. The 17-mile walk started at First Sand Beach at Pequaming Point at 7 a.m. and ended at Sand Point Lighthouse at noon. A feast followed at the Powwow grounds.

Another water walk is being held from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. today in association with the Michigan Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The walk is the Second Annual Children’s Remembrance Walk. It will start at 14808 Assinins Rd. by the old St. Joseph Orphanage. The walk will end at the powwow grounds around 11 a.m.

The People of the Heart Water Walkers hold walks annually in the fall. They are conducted under Anishinaabe ceremony, but are open to all who wish to participate. Their next walk will take place in the Keweenaw, October 8 through 10. They will begin at Sand Point Lighthouse in Baraga and end at the Copper Harbor Lighthouse.

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