Satahon’satat! (Listen!) – The Waters are Speaking

By Erin Hayward (Hill) – Guest Speaker

Onkwehonwe (Indigenous) peoples are instructed about our responsibility to the waters of the world throughout our Creation Stories. Kahnekanoron (Water is Precious) and it is our responsibility as humans to care for the waters and speak for them when it seems no one is listening. The waters are the source of life for almost all on this planet we call our Mother the Earth. By taking some time to critically consider our daily routines, we can come to understand how we personally may be contributing to the state of water quality in Riverine Ecosystems. The waters speak to us in many ways, and together we’ll discuss a few ways that we can listen.

Erin is Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk) and German on her paternal side; and mixed European (Irish & British) on her maternal side. Herfamily is traditionally from Six Nations of the Grand River Territory; displaced by the child welfare system. Erin was born and raised in Scarborough, Ontario. She is an alumnus from Trent University and Fleming College, with an Honours Bachelor of Science in Biology & Geography, with an Emphasis in GIS, a Post Graduate college certificate as a Cartographic Specialist, and a Master of Science in Environmental and Life Sciences with a focus on Aquatic Ecotoxicology. Erin is currently an instructor of Indigenous Perspectives at Fleming College in the School of General Arts and Sciences.

Elder Marilyn Capreol
Opening and Closing Ceremony

Elder Marilyn is Anishinaabe from Shawanaga First Nation in Ontario and is a founding member of the CRP Elders’ Lodge. Marilyn was raised on the waters of Georgian Bay, which is where she will join us from. Throughout her life she has been an active volunteer, and for many years she was the President of the Circle of Directors for Na Me Res, a shelter for Indigenous men in Toronto. Marilyn is also involved with the Georgian Bay Biosphere reserve and is a member of the Indigenous Circle for the Canadian Biosphere Reserves Association.

We look forward to meeting with you virtually on the 19th of June at 1:30 pm!