Happy World Water Day! A big thank you to our chapters for organizing so many amazing events across the 
country this year. Check out the variety of events including film screenings, flash mobs, public forums, Bottled Water Free Day film screenings and the ‘Water is more precious than gold’ mining tour. There might be something in your area this weekend! Don’t forget about the Bottled Water Free Coalition’s new video resource on how people are fighting back against bottled water and water privatization.
If you are still looking for an action for this weekend, I encourage you to participate in our World Water Day photo campaign that will send the Harper government the message that we will protect our lakes and rivers even if the federal government won’t. Check out the photos that are being posted – very moving! – and I look forward to seeing your photos!
With the lack of funding commitments on water protection in yesterday’s federal budget, it is now more clear than ever that together we – as concerned citizens, youth leaders, indigenous, labour, environmental and water activists – will be the ones who protect the lakes and rivers.
We also received a lovely poem from one of our members, Peter Rowlands, and thought we would share it with you on World Water Day. Thank you Peter Rowlands!
CANADIAN RIVERS
PEACE ATHABASCA ABITIBI MIRAMICHI
RESTIGOUCHE RICHELIEU ASSINIBOINE NECHAKO
KLUANE NAHANNI NIPIGON MISSINAIBI
NANOOK NOTTAWAY NOTTAWASAGA NASS
melting of ancient ice
the rivers of Canada
rise on sacred ground
OKANAGAN NIAGARA OMINECA NASKAUPI
KOOTENAY COWICHAN NATASHQUAN SQUAMISH
KITIMAT KAPUSKASING NITINAT TEMISCAMIE
CHILCOTIN NANAIMO TAHLTAN SIKANNI
dancing to many drums
the rivers of Canada
celebrate one and all
MISTASSINI TEMAGAMI KIPAWA KATTAWAGAMI
TATSHENSHINI CHICOUTIMI RICHIBUCTO RIMOUSKI
SKEENA KECHIKA KITLOPE KHUTZEYMATEEN
BELLA COOLA BABINE SPATSIZI STIKINE
shining in many eyes
the rivers of Canada
welcome one and all
JACQUES CARTIER SAGUENAY CHAMPLAIN ST. LAURENT
ST. JOHN SYDNEY ANNAPOLIS INGONISH
SACKVILLE TRACADIE BADDECK PETITCODIAC
MARGAREE HILLSBOROUGH MUSQUODOBIT TIGNISH
meeting an eastern sea,
the rivers of Canada
invite settlement and trade
ST. CROIX CHETICAMP MANICOUAGAN ST. JEAN
MOISIE MATANE MONTMORENCY STE. ANNE
ST. FRANCOIS CHAUDIERE CHATEAUGUAY ST. PAUL
RIDEAU GATINEAU ST. MAURICE MONTREAL
offering beaver pelts and avenues of exploration,
the rivers of Canada
lead trappers and voyageurs west
OTTAWA MATTAWA LAVASE NIPISSING
FRENCH ENGLISH SPANISH INDIAN
HURON ONTARIO ERIE MICHIGAN
NIAGARA DETROIT ST. CLAIR STE. MARIE SUPERIEUR
Etes-vous ici, mes amis,
sur le grand Gitche Gumee, dans le canot du maitre
avec l’avant, les milieux, et le gouvernail?
Are you with me, my friends,
toiling across le Grand Portage –
a nine-mile grunt with 180 pounds on the tump?
PIGEON LOON PINE BASSWOOD EAGLENEST KNIFE
CROOKED ARROW GUNFLINT OTTERTRACK MOOSE
KAMINISTIKWIA DOG SAGANAGA NAMAKAN MALIGNE
LAC LA CROIX LAC A LA PLUIE RAINY RIVER LAKE OF THE WOODS
Etes-vous ici, mes amis,
dans le pays d’en haut,
putting our names on an ancient old trail?
Are you with me, my friends,
dans le canot du nord,
paddling west and singing our songs?
WINNIPEG MANITOBA WINNIPEGOSIS RED
ASSINIBOINE SOURIS PEMBINA HAYES
WHITEMOUTH BLOODVEIN BURNTWOOD CEDAR
SASKATCHEWAN STURGEON-WEIR CHURCHILL LA LOCHE
Etes-vous ici, mes amis,
struggling across Methye Portage –
a twelve-mile trudge with a winter’s worth of gear?
Are you with me, my friends,
paddling with the Northwest Brigade
on rivers flowing to a northern sea?
CLEARWATER ATHABASCA MACKENZIE SLAVE
GREAT BEAR YELLOWKNIFE THELON DUBAWNT
ANDERSON RICHARDSON BURNSIDE BACK
HORTON HOOD HORNADAY HANBURY ROSS
Etes-vous ici, mes amis,
traversant les autres portages
entre les montagnes de l’ouest?
YUKON COLUMBIA LIARD RANCHERIA
TESLIN NISUTLIN PELLY STEWART PEEL
MESALINKA INGENIKA OSILINKA OSPIKA
FRASER THOMPSON FINLAY FRANKLIN DEASE
Are you with me, my friends,
paddling with explorers and guides
on rivers flowing to a western sea?
ALSEK TATSHENSHINI TULSEQUAH TAKU
TUYA TANZILLA INKLIN NAHLIN NAKINA
CHILAKO CHILANKO EUCHINIKO TASEKO
CAPILANO COQUITLAM CHILLIWACK SOOKE
singing in many tongues
the rivers of Canada
speak to one and all
SHELBURNE SHUBENACADIE KANANASKIS QUESNEL
RED DEER YELLOWKNIFE COPPERMINE QU’APPELLE
MUSKOKA MADAWASKA MISSISSAGUA SAUGEEN
VICTORIA VANCOUVER MONTREAL ST. JOHN
ancient providers and highways of commerce,
the rivers of Canada
are the bloodlines of our land
© 2013 PERowlands
