Loving Water

Becky Big Canoe is a mother of two and a grandmother of two. She is a member of the Chippewas of Georgina Island and lives on the island in the straw-bale home she helped build.

Becky has owned her own business on the island in the past but after closing it in 2009 she pursued education in sustainable building. Since then she has also embarked on the path of an activist, taking up the cause of missing and murdered Aboriginal women and, more recently, her people’s connection to and responsibility for the health of the water.

She spoke and performed at the Eco-Fest in Barrie in September 2013. It was there that she announced her intention to do a spiritual walk around Lake Simcoe to bring awareness to the fact that there is still work to be done to restore the health of Lake Simcoe.  She successfully completed this memorable event in June 2014.  In addition, after witnessing a spill of a gas/oil mixture into the bay between the island and the mainland, she is exploring what would be needed for an Emergency Response Plan, developed around the lake, to make sure that we are prepared if an incident like that occurs again.

Loving Water

Becky will be speaking about the Anishinaabe relationship to the water. She will be explaining traditional practices and beliefs, and talk about changes that are happening in her culture to address the realities we are faced with today. She will be sharing what she has learned about this precious spiritual being called water, and explain how we can relate to it in a good way. She will also address the current state of Lake Simcoe and what opportunities are available to help make the lake healthier.