Josephine Mandamin, concerned about water quality and conservation, organized a group of other Ojibwe women to walk around all the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River, blessing and singing to the water. They accomplished this remarkable feat in seven years, and then organized women from other Native Nations to do the same with the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the Gulf of Mexico, and in the frozen north. The account uses numerous Ojibwe words (defined in the glossary) to give a strong sense of setting and of the organizer’s Ojibwe heritage. Other colorful details, such as the fact that Nokomis (the name the narrator uses for Mandamin) went through 11 pairs of sneakers on her walks, make her unusual story particularly appealing to children. (Ages 6-10)

The story of a determined Ojibwe Grandmother (Nokomis) Josephine-ba Mandamin and her great love for Nibi (water). Nokomis walks to raise awareness of our need to protect Nibi for future generations, and for all life on the planet. She, along with other women, men, and youth, have walked around all the Great Lakes from the four salt waters, or oceans, to Lake Superior. The walks are full of challenges, and by her example Josephine-ba invites us all to take up our responsibility to protect our water, the giver of life, and to protect our planet for all generations.