Wiikwemkoong’s youthful Autumn Peltier helps introduce international program
by Bonnie Kogos
Special to The Expositor
NEW YORK CITY—I’d been following the news that Canadian water activist Autumn Peltier, a 13-year-old from Wiikwemkoong, would address the UN General Assembly in New York City on World Water Day, March 22. Her plea is part of the UN’s launch of the International Decade for Action on Water for Sustainable Development.
Her invitation to attend and speak at the United Nations reads, “We recognize and applaud your leadership and advocacy on the importance of clean drinking water, and applaud your initiatives to provide safe water for you and the First Nations communities in your territories. By lending your voice to this cause, you give voice to the youth, most needy and vulnerable among us who have none.”
You bet I’d attend. With a request to wonderful Executive Liaison Lynn Bowerman from Anishinabek Nation in North Bay for information, who sent me the agenda, I obtained a UN Press Pass to attend the ceremony. Anything fabulous like this, from Manitoulin and Wiikwemkoong to Manhattan, is incredibly important. To me, and to share with you.
With appreciation, I welcomed sunny March 22, walking over to the UN. Of course, protection and security is major as you enter; they keep your ID while you’re on the grand premises, and take a photo to wear on a badge you must show. Through a labyrinth of halls, I was escorted up to the General Assembly where I happily greeted Wiikwemkoong Ogimaa Duke Peltier and Linda Roy, president of Ireva Photography from Wiikemkoong. I’ve had the honour of interviewing of Ogimaa Peltier over the years. For me, every Manitoulin summer is complete, attending the Wiikemkoong powwow, dancing, buying tacos, shopping, talking, and visiting with friends.
Sitting with Ogimaa Duke and Linda in the front row of the visitors’ section of the huge General Assembly hall felt awe-inspiring, the first time for this New York City-based writer.
I smiled: Autumn Peltier had gotten me here!
Opening the high-level segment, Honourable Mr. Miroslav Lajcak, president of the United Nations General Assembly, greeted us. “Welcome to the launch of the International Decade of Water for Sustainable Development 2018-2028. Growing demands for water have increased so drastically, we must face reality, which looks different, depending on where you are. No one goes thirsty here at the United Nations, but today, millions are without safe drinking water or toilets; this is their reality. Our water resources are in great danger, with famine, floods and drought all around us. Competition for water is growing and could turn violent. Water scarcity is no surprise. By 2050, we will be in trouble, with increased disputes. Water needs to be a catalyst for cooperation and peace. “
He paused. “We must face reality, out there in parts of the world, there are sick children, and dead crops, open defecation and this may get worse. We come together in this hall realizing water is a priority for our transformative world. My vision is action for water and sanitation; establishing water management and waste reductions for the United Nations, governments, and civic societies. Waste water is dispensed daily, the harsh reality for persons in harsh regions of the world.”
I sat there, thoughtless, in New York City, where water is plentiful. I recalled, 24 years ago, when I was engaged to my then man from Kagawong, we were on his boat, docked in Little Current. He poured two tumblers of rum, and leaned overboard to get a glass of water from Lake Huron, declaring, “This is the best drinking water in world!”
Then.
I sat, thinking, are only wealthy societies like the US, Canada and Europe well-endowed enough to purify the polluted waters in their rivers and streams? We’re able to pay for the cost of sewage treatment and water filtration plants. The Third World, without similar financial resources, dumps its sewage into their waters and streams without any purification.
This is what the UN is all about? And then beautiful Autumn Peltier was introduced to the podium. Ogimaa Duke Peltier, Linda and I sat up straight. Later, we learned that she stood on a stool to reach the podium.
“Many people don’t think water is alive or has a spirit,” Autumn began. “My people, however, believe this to be true (that water has a spirit). Our water deserves to be treated as human with human rights. We need to acknowledge our waters with personhood so we can protect our waters. I am guided here to speak for water and Mother Earth. We come from our mother’s water, it flows. What if we run out of water? I am lucky where I live. Whether frozen in the lake, everything is connected. I can drink from the lake. My heart is not for sale and neither is water. I am 13 and I will be 23 in 2028. One day I will be an ancestor. Our water should not be for sale. No one should have to worry if the water is clean, or if they will run out of water. No child should grow up not knowing what clean water is, or never knowing what running water is. We need to warrior up and find ways to help Mother Earth.”
Autumn was simply elegant. We sighed when she completed her speech. Sitting beside me, Ogimaa Peltier broadcast this by cell so people everywhere in his domain could see and hear her. After her speech, he had to leave to meet other dignitaries. I sat and listened…
A speaker from the Maltese Islands, a member of the Alliance for Small Island States stated, “Two billion people live in water stress as we face salt water intrusion, climate change and pollution. We hope the UN and our partners can alleviate these global challenges. Regrettably, our water budget is lacking financing as these challenges grow.”
A speaker from Ecuador came to the podium, and I closed my eyes, remembering the valuable time I spent in Quito, Cuenca, and cruising the exquisite Galapagos Islands. He said, “We live in relationship with water. To control water, controls life. This is our wealth: we are devoted to reassemble our public policies.”
A speaker from Ethiopia said “This launching event is excellent to begin implementing and by 2025 we wish to identify and implement safe water practices. We’re working hard, because there’s no issue where water does not play or apply.”
A speaker from Jordan said, “Getting enough water focuses on each person’s daily life. We now have 1.4 million Syrian refugees living with us and the demand has increased 300 percent in the last few years. More than 40 percent of the water we receive is generated from across our boundaries. Water is at the breaking point. We must bring our world together for sustainable growth.”
A speaker from Botswana stated, “We are a land of desert and drought. Land is a complex matter of soil and water. We are committed to bringing progress in this new decade. Three quarters of the earth is made up of water—only 2.5 percent is fresh water, which is less than 10 percent to sustain human and terrestrial systems.”
Even with all my world-wide travels, I’m done in. Learning. And proud of Autumn, Grand Chief Pat Madahbee, Ogimaa Duke Peltier, Linda Roy, Autumn’s family and friends who were able to get to NYC by car this past snowy Wednesday to Times Square and their hotel, and to the UN on Thursday. Bravo. Through snow and water. Lots of it.
But with our will, international cooperation and financial resources, we have work to do.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Bonnie Kogos is an ardent and respectful visitor to Manitoulin for almost 30 years, driving into the rhubarb, dancing at powwows, hiking the Cup and Saucer, paddling the Kagawong River and above all, valuing our culture and ways of being. A former travel agent and journalist working for more than 40 years, she accompanied dietician Bea Sandler to write ‘The African Cookbook’, published by World Publishing. She is the author of two books about Manitoulin, and was made an “Honorary Haweater” by the Grand Haw on the publication of her second book, ‘Manhattan Manitoulin.’
