By Rick Garrick

THUNDER BAY — Fort William Elder Sheila DeCorte shared some of her teachings about water and being a Water Walker during her Keepers of the Water presentation at Fort William Historical Park on July 10. DeCorte’s presentation was part of Fort William Historical Park’s The Great Rendezvous celebration of 50 years of bringing life to history, held July 8-16.

“I was bringing awareness to the Water Walks that I do here in Thunder Bay, For the Love of the Rivers Water Walks, and talking a little bit about the importance of protecting and care for the water and water ceremonies, and what they can do, even if they’re not a Water Walker, to bring healing to the water,” DeCorte says. “So, I shared tips on what they can do and that is just talking to the water. Any time they are near a body of water, they could just speak to the water, tell the water that they love her and respect her, and give thanks.”

DeCorte also encouraged people to avoid using plastic bottled water because the plastic is getting into the environment, including the water.

“So, if they could start drinking from refillable water bottles instead, those are just little things that anybody could do and that’s their little part to help bring healing to the water,” DeCorte says. “I notice some of the schools have refillable water stations so people can refill their water bottles. I’m glad to see that these messages are being heard and people are reacting because every chance I get, I give them tips on trying to get away from plastic.”

DeCorte says they have completed three of their four Water Walks in the Thunder Bay area so far this year, the McVicar Creek Water Walk on May 7, the McIntyre River Water Walk on June 4, and the Neebing River Water Walk on July 2.

“The Fort William Historical Park … is on the Kaministiquia River and this is one of the rivers we’re going to be walking on July 29 and 30 to bring healing to the Kaministiquia River,” DeCorte says. “This is our second year of this four-year commitment.”

DeCorte says the participants appreciated the teaching and song she shared with them during her presentation, as well as the opportunity to offer some tobacco to the river.

“So they could offer their own prayers at that time,” DeCorte says.

DeCorte says the goal of the For the Love of the Rivers Water Walkers is to educate the youth so they will pick up the responsibility to protect the water.

“It needs to continue on to the next generations,” DeCorte says. “Once we stop and get too old to do it anymore, they need to pick up that responsibility and move it forward because it’s something that needs to happen.”

DeCorte says she first participated in a Water Walk in 2017 during the late Water Walker Josephine Mandamin-baa’s last Water Walk from Spirit Mountain in Duluth, Minnesota to Matane, Quebec.

“When I came home, the water spirits were just really calling to me and telling me I need to do something for the rivers here in Thunder Bay because of the Seven Fallen Feathers,” DeCorte says.

The Seven Fallen Feathers were seven high school students from First Nations in Northern Ontario who died in Thunder Bay while pursuing their high school studies, including five whose bodies were found in two of the rivers.

“I really felt these rivers had been hurting from that so I questioned to the water spirit: ‘What do I do,’” DeCorte says. “Then I had the vision to bring water down from Loch Lomond, which is on our sacred mountain, Anemki Wajiw, bring that water through ceremony, and add a little bit of water to the rivers as we pass by.”