Water Keepers Journey: group on Indigenous canoe trek

A group of women from Wahnapitae First Nations is in the early stages of a 19-dayceremonial, Indigenous canoe tripfrom Sudbury to Sault Ste. Marie.

The Water Keepers Journey started at sunrise Sunday morning from LakeWahnapitae.

The group plans to paddle458kilometres to Garden River First Nations, travelling between 20-30 kilometres per day.

"Indigenous peoples in general are just very in touch with the water and the lands and just nature in general, and it's very important for us that we ensure that it remains protected," said Dakota Recollet, spokespersonfor the group.

Recollet saidthefirst day on the water was extremely challengingbecause of thestrong wind and choppy water.

The paddlers areheading to the Great Lakes Water Gathering, which will be held in Garden River First Nation betweenJuly 14-17.

The water gathering is an Indigenous ledcoalition of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people collaboratingon ways toprotect water.

Recolletsays water is very sacred inIndigenous culture andthe paddlers are acting as protectors of the water.

She welcomes other paddlers tojoin in along the journey, at any of the check-inpoints.

"People...from different territories can paddle with them for a few days. [It is]just to keep everyone together and build relationships with our communities along the way." saidRecollet.She added it's unifyingfor communities to join and show support.

Two women -StephanieRecolletandJosieLangelier-will canoe theentire trip, whilepaddlersfrom other First Nation communitieswilljointhem at various points along the trek.

Thetrip isupdated daily on Facebook and people can follow the group'sprogress:Water Keepers Journey.