Grand Council Treaty (GCT) #3 Women’s Council received support in May of 2019 by the Anishinaabe Nation of Treaty #3 for their continued work on NiBi (water) and the sacred Nibi Declaration.
The concept of developing a Water Declaration is to ensure that Treaty #3 Anishinaabe Nibi Inaakonigewin (water law principles) are recorded and formally recognized in governance processes. The Declaration will guide GCT3 Leadership in the creation of future policy and decision-making processes that relate to water. Another component of the Declaration is to inspire people to take action to protect water through the development of a toolkit that contains curriculum-based learning tools and information on how to get involved in the further development of this important work.
With the Declaration in hand, the Women’s Council will forge ahead with this important work of honouring Nibi throughout the Anishinaabe Nation of Treaty #3. The Nibi Declaration is a way for Treaty #3 to explain the Anishinaabe relationship to water. This Declaration is about respect, love, and our sacred relationship with Nibi and the life that it brings. It is based on Gitiizii m-inaanik teachings about Nibi, aki/lands, other elements (including air and wind) and all of creation. It is the hope that this knowledge will be preserved and shared through the Declaration with youth and future generations.
As Anishinaabe Kwe, the Women’s Council has responsibilities which include child-care and water. The Women’s Council worked together with GCT3’s Territorial Planning Unit and Decolonizing Water to develop the Water Declaration.