Indigenous leaders inspiring communities to protect and restore the Great Lakes

Indigenous leaders are working with several organizations to launch the Biinaagami Project which aims to inspire communities to protect and restore the Great Lakes.


Today’s event is happening ahead of a public forum taking place in Niagara Falls later this week.


“It is the world’s biggest and most important freshwater ecosystem, it’s a global responsibility and I feel that we as great lakers need to recognize that and speak up for the Great Lakes,” Marc Mattson of Swim Drink Fish said.


During the event today, Indigenous leaders talked about the significance of the Great Lakes. “It’s water for everybody so that’s why we’re gathering here today to share and hopefully help each other and give advice and messages to the government one to include us under decision-making when it comes to water,” Ontario Regional Chief Glen Hare of M’Chigeeng First Nation said.


The event started with a traditional water ceremony. Speakers told the story of the watershed and its significance to Indigenous people.


Project leaders say there are more threats emerging for the Great Lakes like plastics and nuclear waste building up and those issues need to be solved faster than in the past.