1. Created by Sharon Meyer NESD FNMI June, 2015
Sacred Water
Created by Sharon Meyer
NESD FNMI June, 2015

2. Cree First Nation Worldview The Creator created four things above Mother Earth: 1 – Sun 2 – Sky 3 – Moon 4 - Stars

3. wind water fire rock Then the Creator made the four elements: 1 – wind

4. First Nation Traditional view of water is the sacredness of the element. Without it there
would be no existence.
River flow through a city
River flow from a sky view
Ocean flow on Mother Earth
Water represents the veins of Mother Earth. It is in comparison to the veins within our
body that flows blood. The veins of Mother Earth are the rivers and streams that flow
throughout the body of Mother Earth.

5. First Nation traditional worldview recognizes
Water as the first living spirit on Mother Earth.
It gives life to all creation. It is viewed as a gift
from the Creator.
Many creation stories in relation to Turtle Island and water
Babies are surrounded in water while their mothers carry them for nine
months.

6. Water surrounds us in various ways:
Spring water
dew
Can you think of other ways
that water is in your life?

7. Wash clothes
We all use water for everyday purposes:
Water is used
to clean things
like washing a
car.
Drink water
Have a bath
Use water for pleasure
or catch food
Wash hands
Swim
Can you think of other ways that you use water?
First Nations have a variety of cultural and social practices that involve water. These include places of prayer and bathing, stories, dancing and oral histories about water or water bodies, sweat lodges, purification ceremonies, drinking water collection sites, spring water of spiritual significance, medicinal plants nourished by water of spiritual significance, and medicine making

8. Traditional worldview of First Nation people(s) understand that their relationship with
water is built on the subsistence ways of life that extends back thousands of years. In the
relation to the water they advocate for the water rights and want to protect the health of
Water that Mother Earth gives.
Kelly Derrickson - Idle No More Music Video (Official HD) 3:22

9. Water can be dangerous:
Flood
Hurricane
Tsunami
Ice storm
Hail
What are other ways that
water can be dangerous?
Snowstorm

10. What do we need water for?
Water is used to pour on
Grandfather rocks inside
the sweatlodge to create
steam for purification.
Wash food and meat before
cooking
Soaking willow branches
so that the wood will
bend without breaking
Softening hide
Water is used to prepare items for creating cultural crafts by pre-soaking and softening the
material such as hides and branches.

11. The Creator put Grandfather Thunder in the west sky.
Rain
The Creator put Grandfather Thunder in the west sky.
The people would become the grandchildren. As good
Grandfathers do they visit their grandchildren. In doing
so Grandfather Thunder will use the drum to send the
big thunder voice across the sky to let them know you
are coming so they can get ready to receive you.
Protecting Our Sacred Water – the Jane Goodall Insittue of Canada
Everything all ties together. So this water is one element
but we need the trees, the water from this area to provide
life for the trees. We need the trees to provide fires….And
we need the earth to provide soil for the trees. It all ties
in with this water. It is the life source for all those elements
and it all ties in. Everything relies on everything and that’s
what creates a balance. So when one of those things is taken
out of there it creates a domino effect.
Documentary First Nation Perspective on Water by Matthew Roy
WATER JOURNEY – Trailer 3:37

13. Water concerns! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aysj7696b0A
"Drinking from the sea", explore how and why sea water is desalinated (motion design) 2:19

14. If tap water was safe:
Jane Goodall Institute and Learning for a Sustainable Future

15. Some teachings about water:
Gr. 8 lesson – In the news – water on First Nation Reservations
Gr. 8 lesson – The story of Bottled Water
Pre-k – Gr. 1 the teachings of the four elements
Has a video explaining interconnectedness of all living things to water 1:11
Unit 3 Water: Its Many Uses
Gr. 5-6 Water and North America
Bird Island - Plastic Vs Nature 3:53

16. Thank you for learning the First Nation way of understanding our place on Turtle Island and Mother Earth. Sharon Meyer – NESD FNMI