1. As Indigenous Peoples, we recognize, honor and respect Water as a sacred and powerful gift from the Creator. Water, the first living spirit on this earth, gives life to all creation.

2. Water, powerful and pristine, is the lifeblood, like the arteries and veins of our bodies, sustains life for the whole being, all peoples, lands and Creation. We know that by listening to the songs of the Water, all creation will continue to breathe.

3. Our knowledge, laws and ways of life teach us to be responsible at all times in caring for this sacred gift that connects all life. In ceremony and as time comes, the Water sings. Her songs begin in the tiniest of streams, transforms to flowing rivers, travels to majestic oceans, and thundering clouds, and back to the earth, to begin again.

5. When Water is threatened, all living things are threatened. Our hearts cry when we see the ways in which people, through governments and multinational corporations, destroy the Water in their greed.

6. As Water has given us life, we must fight for the life of Water. We must continue to hear her songs and protect this sacred gift from the Creator. We must be prepared.

7. The rivers and the oceans sing their songs. Water is the melody of life.

8. In this time, we see that our Waters are being polluted with chemicals, pesticides, sewage, disease and nuclear waste. As we pollute the water, we pollute the spirit. When water is treated as a commodity, it is no longer treated as sacred. Water must be treated as a valuable element to ensure the health of the environment

10. Indigenous Peoples consider themselves as custodians or caretakers of all creations on earth, including water Water is considered sacred by indigenous peoples as it is necessary to sustain life

13. NIPIY WATER IS LIFE

16. Did you know... Over half of Mother Earth’s lakes and rivers are polluted. Every eight seconds a child dies from drinking contaminated water (that's 10,000 a day). Today, 45% of sub-Saharan Africans lack access to clean, safe water. That's about 300 million people. In many African countries, toxic water is used by 80% of the rural population. Nearly 1/4 of humanity still remains today without proper access to water and sanitation. (source: Children's Water Fund) Indigenous peoples in both developed and underdeveloped countries are the among the poorest of populations, living in substandard housing, sanitation and access to clean water. The children and the elderly are the most vulnerable.

17. Indigenous Teachings of Water learned from Elders Sandy Beardy (Cree) Chief Simon Lucas (Nuu Chah Nulth) Huirangi Waikerepuru (Maori) Excerpts from doctoral thesis by Darlene Sanderson Nipe Wasekimew Clear Water © Darlene Sanderson, the above Elders and their families, 2004 1.`Water is life. 2.Water is sacred. 3. Water isn’t just an ordinary element…Water is power. 4. Language is essential to the transmission of meanings about water.

18. Nehiyaw (Cree) Nipîy water Sîpîy river KisisipiyMain River (Nelson River, which flows to Churchill) sîpeyicikew he/she is patient kihcikamiythe ocean Pimiciwan watercourse Pimatisiwin life Miyopimatisiwiw he/she leads an exemplary life Miyopimatisiwin Tree of Life Nipowinthe act of dying

20. 5.Ceremonies and rituals are an important part of thanking the Creator for all of the elements, all of life. 6.Cultural practices and the creation stories are the vehicles to sustainability. 7. Water is essential for the beginning of life. Preserving our traditional medicines will benefit the health of all living things. 8.Before, we had everything we needed to live. We didn’t depend on oil. 9.Traditional guardianship of the waters will ensure healthy glaciers, rivers, lakes and oceans.

21. Traditional knowledge is used at the local level by communities as the basis for decision-making pertaining to food security, human and animal health, education, natural resource management(including water), and other vital activities.

23. Maori Words about Water WAIRUASpirit WAIORAWaters of Life WAIITAPU Sacred waters WAITĀTEA Sacred waters WAIHONOTo join WAIHERETo be bound in conception WAIHANGA To create WAITĀHEKEWaters of Descent WAITEIKABirth water, fish water, symbolism WAIUU Breast milk

24. Recommendations 1.Education and capacity building: Through awareness raising about water issues, promoting sane and sustainable development initiatives and implementing traditional methods where applicable, it may be possible to slow, halt or even reverse the damage done to water sources and ensure access to water for all(“When spider webs unite they can entangle a lion”). In unity Indigenous peoples can make bring change

25. Cont’d: recommendations 2. Decision-making: bottom up 3. Indigenous research and Indigenous water policy development included(UN agencies and nation states) 4. To safeguard the existing knowledge systems and their ongoing evolution one must safeguard the continuation of the specific relationships between people and their environment.

26. WAIUU Breast milk WAIATASpiritual, emotional reflection, song. WAIHOHOU- RONGOHealing waters WAIMATEOf illness & death WAITUKUKIRIRivers of life& mourning WAIKARERippling waters WAIREREWaterfall WAI-INU Water to drink WAIPUNASpring or fountain

27. 10.Indigenous elders, who have been grounded in culture and language, are the foundation of traditional education about water. They are our living treasures. 11.Understanding the meaning of water helps us to understand our relationship with, and our interconnectedness with the natural world and with each other. The values of sharing and caring are taught. 12.Pollution of the water needs to stop. 13.Indigenous laws determine our relationship with water.

29. What is Indigenous law? It means upholding our teachings about the sacred relationship we hold with the Creator. Traditional native laws are based on the laws of nature. They provide protection to water and life. If these traditional teachings can be respected, all people and all of life will enjoy better health and wellbeing. Clean water will be available to everyone.