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AOK powwow Water Song honours Great Lakes and Josephine Mandamin

AUNDECK OMNI KANING—As the Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nation Traditional Powwow falls at the conclusion of Great Lakes and Fresh Water Week (May 31-June 8) elder Pat Madahbee Ogichidaa (Warrior) called together women to perform a Water Song in honour of the water and the Great Lakes that have formed a critical part of the lives of the Anishinaabe since time immemorial.

“I thought we should do something special up here during the 33rd edition of the Aundeck Omni Kaning powwow,” said Elder Madahbee. “We are going to honour the Great Lakes today and acknowledge the great work that Josephine Mandamin-baa did as a water walker and the movement she started, where they went around all the Great Lakes to make sure that our water is protected and kept here. And, very importantly, it’s women who are the keepers of the water. So, we want our song to acknowledge keeping the water pristine and pure, because everybody shares the responsibility to keep all our water bodies clean.”

Elder Madahbee went on to note the song is to honor women as water carriers. 

He then called upon the female dancers, women’s traditional, shawl and jingle dress to gather in the dance arena while a group of four Anishinabekwe singers (Dr. Jen Abotossaway, Karen Madahbee-Abotossaway, Mandy McGraw and Bria Abotossaway) perform a Water Dance honour song.

Following the song, Anishinaabe-kwe (Anishinaabe women) were called to gather by the shores of the lake for a commemorative photograph to mark the event. Elder Madahbee declined to be in the photograph.

“This is about the women and the water, to honour those who bring and sustain life,” he said.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Witmer declared the week of May 31 to June 8 as Great Lakes and Fresh Water Week declaring, in part, “… during this week, we encourage Michiganders to connect with our freshwater resources and learn more about their unique wonders and vital importance to Michigan’s future.”

It is a sentiment that is shared wholeheartedly by the Anishinabe people, noted Elder Madahbee.

Article written by

Michael Erskine
Michael Erskine
Michael Erskine BA (Hons) is Associate Editor at The Manitoulin Expositor. He received his honours BA from Laurentian University in 1987. His former lives include underground miner, oil rig roughneck, early childhood educator, elementary school teacher, college professor and community legal worker. Michael has written several college course manuals and has won numerous Ontario Community Newspaper Awards in the rural, business and finance and editorial categories.