The Water Walker
Nokomis Josephine walks all across the country raising awareness for nibi (water).
Themes: water, collective action, water activism, traditional knowledge
Image credit: Second Story Press
About the Author
Joanne Robertson is a Canadian Ojibwe author who is a member of Atikameksheng Anishnawbek First Nation in Ontario. She is a water activist involved with the Mother Earth Water Walkers. She is pictured here with Josephine Mandamin, the real-life Nokomis.
Discussion Questions
Do you like the water?
What are some things that water does for you in your life?
Is there a special body of water near your home?
Nokomis travels a long way walking for the water. What is the farthest you’ve been from home and why?
What are some threats to the health of the water? Try to think of some things that you can do in your life to help.
Nokomis and the Mother Earth Water Walkers wear sneakers to help them walk around the Great Lakes. What is a tool in your life that helps you reach your goals?
Nokomis and the Mother Earth Water Walkers walk all the way around the Great Lakes.
How many of the Great Lakes have you been to?
How are the Great Lakes important to your life?
How might they be important to the Ojibwe specifically?
Learning Activities
Look up where the closest lake, river, or ocean is to you. Try to organize a trip with your family, friends, or school group to go there and thank the water.
Follow the information in the back of the book and send a letter to the real-life Nokomis, Josephine Mandamin.
Explore More
Read Nibi is Water, Nibi Aawon Nbiish (2020) written and illustrated by Joanne Robertson (Translated by Shirley Williams and Isadore Toulouse), a book for younger children about the value of water.
Read Young Water Protectors: A Story about Standing Rock (2018) by Aslan and Kelly Tudor to learn about indigenous activism to protect water and resources from a child's perspective.
Read River of Salmon Peoples (2015) by Jeannette Armstrong and Gerry William to learn about the immense value of a river for a First Nations community.
Ojibwa Grandmother recounts walk around the Great Lakes
James Vukelich, 'Kaagegaabaw,' a Native American speaker, educator & linguist, explores the ancient Ojibwe word for water, "Nibi ᓂᐱ ".
Water Bibliography (1).pdfRecommended children's literature about water
Great Lakes Bibliography.pdfRecommended children's literature about the Great Lakes