Stories and prophecies surrounding Mother Earth and Father Sky are abundant in indigenous folklore where Indigenous People have long protected the earth from those who would seek to abuse her resources. That’s why it is so wonderful to see that storytelling tradition carried on using today’s media outlets.
Carole Lindstrom, an Anishinaabe/Metis enrolled as a citizen of the Turtle Mountain Band of the Ojibwe tribe located in North Dakota has taken on the fight with her beautiful children’s book, We Are Water Protectors, illustrated by Michaela Goade, which recalls water as “the first medicine,” the place from which we all started, a connecting and unifying force of creation. Today, water is under siege, the young protagonist in Water Protectors says, and inspired by her grandmother’s stories, she stands to lead her people to fight the Black Snake that threatens all of creation. The fight will not be easy but if she wins all of creation will benefit.
The Seven Fires Prophecy from the Anishinaabe tribe talks of two roads before mankind, one a natural path with respect for all living things, the other a paved-over highway that continues to accelerate at faster and faster speeds through technological and other advancements — much like the movie Koyaanisqatsi depicted four decades ago — one where the earth is an afterthought.
The Seven Fires Prophecy says the Black Snake is a result of the hurried path and, if left unchecked, will blanket the world in much harm and ultimate destruction. Indigenous Peoples believe the black snake is the embodiment of the oil pipelines that have spread like ley lines across our world.
In April 2016, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe stood up to the Black Snake in an attempt to block the Dakota Access Pipeline. It’s been years of picketing, protesting, and legal battles for the tribe and others, the latest being a win before the U.S. Court of Appeals who said a full environmental impact statement was needed before the future fate of the pipeline could be decided. The next hearing is scheduled for April 9, 2021.
Lindstrom’s protagonist says the fight will not be easy, but it is necessary if we are to survive.
We stand
With our songs
And our drums
We are still here
Carol Lindstrom, We Are Water Protectors
We Are Water Protectors won The Caldecott Award in 2020, given to “the most distinguished American picture book for children,” one of almost a dozen awards won by Lindstrom and Goade for this moving children’s story.
It is hard to imagine what the world would look like without these and other dedicated groups of earth keepers.
By working with native tribes, those who have held the land close to them like a mother holds a newborn, we just may be able to make our way out of our climate change mess.
It’s time to take the ancient medicine and walk the road of the natural path. It’s time to return to our Mother what belongs to her. It’s time to revere that which gives us life.
You can start by reading We Are Water Protectors.
Green Life Blue Water 
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The incongruency of our today, technological dichotomy, on one hand we go to Mars looking for water, the Mother of life, meanwhile here on Earth some do not give a damn about polluting it. 😦
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Oh how very true!!
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I hadn’t heard about this book. Thanks for sharing it.
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My pleasure, Jacqui.
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Hi Pam – my comment got zapped yesterday! Water is essential … and I’ve ordered the Carson book – your post with the comments are very informative and we all need to be better informed and relate to what’s happening today. Thanks – I’m looking forward to reading it … all the best – Hilary
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Me, too, Hilary, and thanks to Neil for mentioning it!
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Pam, the book looks wonderful and with an important message for our children, us all. Fingers crossed for the hearing next month.
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🙏 🤞🤞
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I’ve been following the Sioux at Standing Rock over the last few years. I hope this hearing next month goes well. It’s such a tough battle when the black snake wants to swallow everything up in its path. We surely need to awaken from our long sleep and be earth keepers ourselves. Thanks Pam xx
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On that, I wish more of us agreed, Susan. But we can form our own little club and just keep educating the “youngins”. Eventually everyone else will catch up. 😘
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A powerful post, my friend. Of the kind I like xxxxxxxxxxxx
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Spreading the good word, eh?! Hope the weekend had a few good belly laughs in it, Lady Shey. 😘
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Lol, it was brutally busy my darling !!! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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Time for a pint!🥰
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Why stop at one… x
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😘🥰❤️💪🙌👏
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Pam, thanks for bringing this book to our attention!
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It’s a beautiful little book, Rosaliene. 😘
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I’ve probably mentioned this before. A book that knocked me over (it’s brilliant, and beautifully written) is The Sea Around Us, by Rachel Carson. It is the story of water — its creation and powers.
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I need to get a copy of that, Neil. I’ve read Silent Spring so it’s time for her water book although I’m nervous to find out it’s far worse than I imagined. 😞
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The waters were in far better shape when she wrote the book, compared to today’s situation. The book isn’t about pollution .
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There’s a documentary on Netflix about overfishing that is soooo scary! 😟
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Neil, I agree, The Sea Around Us is both brilliant and beautifully written – an incredible story of how she came to write it as well as documenting the wonder of the oceans. An extraordinary feat of writing and research – I’ve never read a book quite like it! I wonder what Rachel Carson would make of it all now …
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Totally turning over in her grave, Annika. 😞
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