Our relationship with Nibi is preserved through Ceremony Teachings Education Knowledge

All of us can learn something from water. Lessons of unity, perseverance, history, and self-reflection flow from water. Its many forms provide us all with limitless knowledge.

The Nibi Curriculum

A resource has been created for teachers, students, and individual learners of all levels to further their relationship with Nibi.

There are many ways to learn about and share our knowledge of nibi. Teachings (classroom and traditional), community water walks, awareness campaigns, and support for advocacy initiatives are just a few of the ways we can pass on the sacredness of nibi.

Grand Council Treaty #3’s Youtube Channel is a place where you can find teachings and stories from influential figures such as Ogichidaa Francis Kavanaugh, Don Jones, and more.

Water Teachings is a portal brought to life by Decolonizing Water that shares teachings from scholars and community members who are working to protect and honour water.

Ki’eshgitabaaning Cultural and Healing Lodge has created an online space that hopes to share and preserve teachings for future generations.

If you have a teaching that you would like to share, please let us know and we will make a space for it.

It is important we understand the laws that seek to govern our natural world. Knowing the policies that are in place can help us advocate for water’s protection and give it a voice. There are a number of laws that should be reviewed when discussing policies about water:

Inaakonigewin – Anishinaabe Law

Federal Water Laws

The Nibi Declaration Principles

Animakee Principles | The Thunderbird Principles

The Declaration is grounded in a series of principles that highlight our connection and responsibility to nibi. Taking the form of a Thunderbird, these principles show us what the Declaration is all about – respect, love, and our sacred relationship with nibi and the life that it brings. We thank Ogichidaa Francis Kavanaugh for his design of the Thunderbird.

Hover over each bubble to learn about the concepts that are behind each of the Nibi Declaration Principles.

Life

Creation

Spirit
& Agency

Sacred

Mother
Earth

Education

Spirits that look
after the water

Kinds of
water

Uses

Mino
Biimadiziwin

Ceremony

Women's
relationship
duties

Flow
movement
connectedness

Inclusive
(Everyone)

Generations

Relationships

Manito aki
inakonigaawin

Actions

Honour
& respect

Shared

Stewardship

Teachings

Responsibility

Nationhood

Traditional
Governance

Treaty

We are working with Treaty #3 language speakers to document key terms and concepts revolving around water and the Nibi Declaration. We would like to acknowledge the variation that exists in these words as you move across dialects, and hope to include knowledge on the language of nibi across the Nation.