The document discusses the importance of water from an Indigenous perspective. It notes that water is essential to all life and is sacred in Indigenous ceremonies and traditions. However, the prophesy of clean water scarcity has come to pass, as many can no longer drink directly from lakes and streams. Communities near Lake Simcoe struggle with water quality issues as well, as the water is not drinkable and makes children sick to swim in. The document calls for joining together to view water through a sacred lens and protect it for future generations, as the elders have foretold this challenge.

1. Water Summit – June 17th Cynthia Wesley-Esquimaux, Ph.D. - Chippewa of Georgina Island First Nation

2. Knowing the Sacred… Water is one of the critical elements to life. If you take care of the water spirit it will remain happy and will provide for your needs. Every living being relies on water for life – insects, fish, birds, wildlife and plants. And we in turn rely on them for our survival. Many people take water for granted. Yet water serves our every basic need. We drink water to quench our thirst. We need water to grow and cook our food. When we have a fever we are soothed by water. We cleanse our selves and our homes with water.

3. Seeing the Sacred… WHEN WE PRAY WE OFFER WATER AS AN OFFERING. WATER IS NEEDED FOR OUR CEREMONIAL SWEATS. The elders have told us that a time will come when there will be a scarcity of clean water. Once we were able to drink from any lake or stream. Those days are gone. The prophesy has come to pass. Violet Poitras, Elder, Paul First Nation

4. Georgina Island… This is the community I live in, on Lake Simcoe. It is fresh water, but we cannot drink the water, and our children get sick when they swim in the water, especially in mid-summer.

5. Accessibility of Water?

6. Abundance?

7. Our elders remember…

8. Joining Forces…

9. Miigwetch! We all have a reason to adjust our vision and view of water in our lives, it is time to see water through a sacred lens, Aboriginal people have been waiting…