Kristen Villebrun and Wendy Bush hoped they wouldn't have to pray for Chedoke Creek, but four years after they first raised alarm about the water's condition, they were part of an Indigenous full moon ceremony to do just that. About 50 people showed up near Princess Point on the dark and frigid Monday evening for the monthly ceremony, which was particularly special as it focused on Chedoke Creek. The body of water that runs into Cootes Paradise had about 24 billion litres of sewage and storm water runoff leak into it due to a gate being left open.
Anishinabek Nation Chief Water Commissioner Autumn Peltier stressed that no child should have to go without access to clean water during her Feb. 16 address at the virtual Assembly of First Nations (AFN) 5th Annual Water Symposium. The Feb. 15-17 symposium also featured opening remarks by Ontario Regional Chief Glen Hare and a Panel Presentation on the Class Action Litigation on Drinking Water Advisories in First Nations that included Curve Lake Chief Emily Whetung.
