Mother Earth Water Walk coming to Racine

A group of Ojibwa grandmothers from Canada will be walking to Racine to raise awareness of water issues. For the past five years they have been walking around the Great Lakes, beginning with Lake Superior in 2003 and concluding with the lower portion of Lake Michigan in 2008.

The public is invited to walk with the grandmothers in Racine. They will arrive in Racine about 3 p.m. on Monday, May 5, and the walk will begin at the Bryant Center/Roosevelt Park and end at City Hall where the grandmothers will meet with Mayor Gary Becker.

Josephine Mandamin, Mother Earth Water Walk coordinator, will speak at a special program at 7 p.m. on Monday evening in the OLO Room at the Sienna Center, 5635 Erie St. If the weather cooperates, the grandmothers may also do a water ceremony outside. There is no charge for this program but donations will be accepted.

According to the grandmothers, “Water is essential to our survival and health. Everything is related to water. This is proportionate to Mother Earth. Our food sources use water to be nutritious. The medicine wheel teachings are about balance in life.”