The greater Peterborough community is invited to lace up their shoes this Mother’s Day and join the sixth annual water awareness walk to be held Sunday, May 10 starting at 6:30 a.m. at the Tipi beside the First Peoples House of Learning at Trent University, Peter Gzowski College.

This year’s walk will begin with a traditional water blessing and will include a walk around a section of the Otonabee River between Trent University and Lakefield. The total distance of the walk is approximately 25km and will include a water blessing in all four directions.

“Mother’s Day is a day to celebrate our mothers and grandmothers as well as a time to remember and honour our Earth Mother and her life-giving water. Each Mother’s Day, the Water Awareness Walk brings attention to the necessity of clean unpolluted water for all people, animals and the environment,” said Shirley Williams, Elder and water walk spokesperson. “We’re looking forward to the greater community joining us as we offer thanks to the water while also calling attention to local water issues.”

The Water Walk is inspired and organized by Anishinaabe kwewag (First Nation women) but all are welcome to join the walk for an hour or two or for the entire day. The walk will end with a potluck at the Ernest and Florence Benedict Gathering Space at the First Peoples House of Learning at Trent University. All walkers and supporters are welcome to attend the potluck but are asked to bring a dish labelled with ingredients to share. All are welcome to donate food to the event and can drop it off at the gathering space from 2:00 – 4:00 with Paula Sherman.

In keeping with First Nations ceremonial protocol, women are asked to wear long skirts and men to wear long pants. It’s asked that pets and bikes remain at home.

For any community members interested in learning more about the Indigenous Knowledge and teachings that inspire the Water Walk, all are also invited to attend, Seven Generations Ahead: Celebrating Water Solutions, a conference on Friday May 8^th at Fleming College. The conference will feature teachings from the founder of the Mother Earth Water Walks, Grandmother Josephine Mandamin and Elder Shirley Williams, founder of the Kawartha Lakes Water Awareness Walk.

For more information, visit the event Facebook page.