Joanne Robertson has helped Grandmother Josephine Mandamin organize her water walks, and transformed that experience into this beautiful picture book.
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I have a free copy of The Water Walker (signed by both Joanne Robertson and Grandmother Josephine Manadamin) to give away! Details at the end of the post!
Have you heard about Grandmother Josephine Manadamin and her water walks?
Josephine and her helpers have walked over 20 000km, including around all the Great Lakes, on the banks of the St. Lawrence River, and from each of the salt water bodies surrounding North America to the centre of the continent to conduct ceremony and raise awareness about protecting water.
(If you are unfamiliar with the story I highly recommend listening to her speak either in person or on Youtube. The documentary Water Journey followed her walk across North America.)
Joanne Roberston (Anishnaabe) wrote and illustrated Water Walker, a picture book which tells the story of Grandmother Josephine, and her determined efforts to bring attention to the pollution and suffering of water is experiencing. The book has fun illustrations which recount Josephine's journey, from her initial thoughts and dreams, to the conclusion of her walk across Turtle Island. It ends with a message to readers, calling them to take up the work of protecting water.
I first heard the story in The Water Walker on September 26, at the book launch of The Water Walker at A Different Booklist here in Toronto. Junior level students from four different schools in the city were in attendance, and their questions for Joanne and Josephine demonstrated a deep interest in the story, in the issues surrounding water, and their enthusiasm to make a difference.