March 20, 2025
Dallas Abitong, one of many Water Walkers, visited classrooms at Biidaaban on March 20, to impart knowledge about the life-giving significance of water -- a necessity for all life forms -- and the Anishinaabe practices and responsibilities Dallas was taught, in order to protect and conserve water for the future of Mother Earth and all of her inhabitants.
Dallas’ Anishinaabe name is, Zhawbwaywayyawn, (meaning ‘the one who pierces through’), was born and raised in Sagamok. Dallas has walked with the late Josephine-Ba Mandamin, whom she referred to appreciatively numerous times, acknowledging Josephine as the teacher who mentored her along the way to her current role and responsibility as a Water Walker. Dallas shared that Josephine ‘birthed’ the Water Walk back in 2003, and that she had followed her across all of Turtle Island, to share teachings about the sacredness of water with all who welcomed them.
Josephine founded the movement because she was inspired by a prophecy about water becoming scarce. Her group walked around the Great Lakes and other conjoining waterways in an effort to raise awareness about the sacredness of water and the need for its protection as a necessary life source. Songs and offerings of tobacco were shared with the streams, rivers, lakes, and waterways they journeyed to, as a symbol of their love and appreciation for the water. Dallas recalls the longest walk she participated in. It was the 2011 Four Directions Walk. Water Walkers walked from each direction: from Churchill, Manitoba in the North, Machias, Maine in the East, the Gulf of Mexico in the South, and Aberdeen, Washington in the West. Water was gathered from each of the four salt waters in a copper vessel. Then, following tradition, a petition to the spirit of the water was made, and intentions were made to care for the water at all four send-offs. Water Walkers carried the water across their respective lands, converging in Bad River, Wisconsin months later where they all met at the exact same time, offering their vessel of water, intentions, tobacco offerings, and ceremony, all in the name of the sacred life source, Water.“ Once the water starts moving, it doesn’t stop”, said Dallas, noting that it is continually moving throughout the day, and routes are designed so that if they are travelling through large urban centers they don’t need to stop for traffic or stop-lights if the guides lead them on the right path and keep track of timing. Dallas went on to explain, “it’s the women who carry the water, because in Anishinaabe culture, it is the women who are life-givers. When we, as women, carry life within our womb, we carry water too. The men act as the guides on the journey, carrying the staff, so that the women carrying the water are protected and are led on the right path, at the exact right time, to deliver the water safely and as it should be. It is the combination of the two --women and men -- who bring balance to the work that the Creator has given us. We as women pray for, carry, sing, and speak for the water and teach about the sacredness of water and the need to protect it for all of Creation”.
As a Water Walker, Dallas joins many Anishinaabekwe walking hundreds of kilometers circumnavigating waterways for the protection of water. She says it is “her role and responsibility to bring awareness of the necessity to access clean water by all people across Turtle Island, and protect water sources from contamination, pollution, and irresponsible or excessive usage”. It is Dallas’ own self-determination that led her to participate in the Four Directions Water Walk. She recounted a story of how she was sitting by the water with her tobacco and thought about her intentions, offering the tobacco to the water. From that point, her life flowed forward swiftly and fluidly, having received the calling to participate in the Water Walk movement and to fulfil the responsibility she now holds. She received support along the way from her biological family, her ‘adoptive’ family (Josephine-ba Mandamin and other Water Walkers sharing their knowledge freely with her), and the Sagamok community, to do the work that she does.
Dallas travels to schools and classrooms sharing traditional teachings, stories, and songs that have been passed along through generations. Shesang the Nibi (Water) Song for Biidaaban students, and it includes these intentions:
Ni-bi Gi Zah- gay- e- goo (Water we love you)
Gi Me-gwetch -wayn ni- mi – goo (We thank you)
Gi Zhaw Wayn ni- mi- goo (We respect you)
Dallas travels with a small wooden horse she calls Frederick, who has been with her, and also with Josephine for so long now, that she protectively keeps him situated close by her to avoid further deterioration from curious hands. But learners are welcome to observe Frederick! Students relate to the theme of water through her calm, soothing singing of Anishinaabemowin lyrics contained in traditional songs providing reverie to water. Some of the students were familiar with the songs and phrases and participated, singing along with Dallas.
During her visit to the primary grades, Dallas read from the ‘Water Walker’ book that was based on Josephine-ba's journey completing the original Water Walk. This book shows how water is essential and is our lifeblood. From the fish that swim in the rivers, and the water we drink for refreshment and use to keep ourselves clean, to the dewdrops on flowers that help the pollinators thrive – water is necessary for life. Just as the streams, rivers, ponds, lakes, oceans traverse the land, it traverses our bodies in the same meandering and supportive way, breathing life into us and keeping us nourished. For this reason, we are grateful for water and show our respect to it through prayer, song, stories, and tradition – which Dallas encourages us to do daily. With the senior students, discussion included how they too need to be stewards of the land and carry on the protection of water and continue building awareness and advocacy about its importance to all creation.
Chi miigwech to Dallas for providing her unique gifts of respect, understanding, and advocacy as Water Walker to the students of Biidaaban.
