Water Walkers

Loreen Niewenhuis is an author, adventurer, and Great Lakes speaker. She has completed a trilogy of 1,000-mile adventures exploring the Great Lakes and has written three books about the Great Lakes [A 1,000-Mile Walk on the Beach *a Heartland Indie Bestseller*, A 1,000-Mile Great Lakes Walk *winner of the Great Lakes Great Reads Award*, and A 1,000-Mile Great Lakes Island Adventure]. To learn more about her work, or to book her as a speaker, go to http://LakeTrek.com

I met author Carol Trembath at my speaking engagement at the Ann Arbor Library this summer.

Carol had just finished writing a children's book called "Water Walkers." Recently, she sent me a copy to review.

It's a beautiful picture book inspired by Grandmother Josephine Mandamin, an Anishinaabe member and founder of the Mother Earth Water Walkers. She and her group began walking around the Great Lakes in 2003 and have walked thousands of miles encircling these waters and calling for their healing and protection.

There are beautiful illustrations and a wonderful story centered around a young girl, Mai, who walks with her grandmother around the lakes. Along the way, she learns much about our lakes and the people and creatures who depend on these waters. The book also has useful information for teachers in the back.

To learn more about Water Walkers, go HERE.

Many resources in the back of the book

I learned about Mandamin when I was in the middle of my first hike encircling Lake Michigan. I am inspired by her endeavors and passion for our Great Lakes. Here is a video of Mandamin talking about her Water Walks:

Les Cheneaux Historical Museum

When you visit the Les Cheneaux Islands, be sure to drop in at the Historical Museum.

This area is famous for their annual Antique Wooden Boat Show

Historic map of the Les Cheneaux Islands

Information about the Native Americans who lived here

Workers Peggy and Mary stand in front of quilt

Many wonderful exhibits

Are You the First?

I was often asked as I walked around Lake Michigan if I was the first to do this. I had heard of many people biking around the lake and had read several books have been written by people who have driven around all five Great Lakes. It was back in February, though, when I heard a rumor about a woman who had walked around Lake Michigan, and possibly all five of the Great Lakes. And I finally had some time to track down the woman behind the story.

She is Josephine Mandamin, a member of the Anishinabe tribe in Canada and she did, indeed, organize and participate in a Water Walk, taking on one Great Lake a year between 2003 and 2008. This epic undertaking was prompted by a prophesy from a tribal elder that the waters of the Great Lakes would die within 30 years if action wasn't taken on their behalf. Mandamin's action was to raise awareness about the problems facing the lakes by walking around each one. She was joined each year by a small group from her tribe on her walks. They walked mostly on main roads so that they would pass through communities where Mandamin could share her message that "the water is sick...and people need to really fight for that water, to speak for that water, to love that water."

While I walked mostly alone and mainly on the shoreline, I hope that our paths overlapped at some point. It would be my honor to have followed in this amazing woman's footsteps, and I share her concern and love for Lake Michigan.