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Water is more than a chemical compound of hydrogen and oxygen; it is the essence of life itself. Indigenous cultures worldwide, especially those residing along the interior rivers, bays, lakes and coastal regions, have long recognized water as a living entity imbued with spirit, agency, and autonomy. This understanding transcends metaphor—it is rooted in an intimate observation of nature and a profound respect for water’s role as the life-giver and decision-maker for all beings on Mother Earth.

The Electrical Pulse of Life

At the heart of water’s life-sustaining power is its electrical nature. As water flows over rocks, streams, and across shorelines, it absorbs an electrical charge, which Indigenous teachings often describe as part of water’s spiritual essence. This charge is essential: it allows water to act as a carrier of nutrients and minerals, fueling the cycles of life. Water’s electrical energy flows into every living organism it touches, connecting and sustaining all forms of life.

In its journey, water transitions between states—flowing rivers, evaporating clouds, nourishing rain—maintaining its electrical and spiritual essence. Each raindrop carries this charge, a gift from the sky that nourishes the land below. In Indigenous perspectives, this cycle is sacred, a manifestation of the interdependence of the Earth, water, and all living beings.

Climate Change and the Spirit of Water

The impacts of climate change on water systems extend beyond physical and chemical changes; they also compromise the spirit and autonomy of water. Rising global temperatures, pollution, and habitat destruction are alarmingly altering water composition. Ocean acidification, freshwater contamination, and the disruption of natural water cycles reduce water’s ability to carry its life-sustaining charge. These changes undermine its agency and autonomy, threatening Earth’s ecosystems, human health, and life balance.

For example, increased carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere are changing water’s pH levels, affecting its conductivity and capacity to carry nutrients. Pollutants and microplastics interfere with water’s electrical charge, diminishing its ability to nourish plants, animals, and humans. If water’s natural composition is compromised, the intricate symphony of life it orchestrates falters, leading to cascading effects across ecosystems.

Implications for Humanity and Nature

The loss of water’s natural electrical charge and integrity disrupts the interconnected cycles of life. For humans, this could manifest as reduced agricultural productivity, a decline in freshwater biodiversity, and weakened immune systems due to poor-quality drinking water. For nature, it means the destabilization of ecosystems, loss of aquatic species, and further disruptions to the delicate balance of life.

Indigenous teachings remind us that water is not a resource to be owned or exploited—it is a living being with agency, autonomy, and rights. When water is polluted or its flow is restricted, its freedom to move, nourish, and sustain life is violated. Recognizing water’s rights means acknowledging its role as a decision-maker for life on Earth. This understanding calls for policies and practices that respect water’s autonomy and ensure its protection for future generations.

The Agency of Water: A Living Being

Indigenous perspectives emphasize that water, like all beings, has its spirit, purpose, and agency. Water’s movements, whether gentle streams, mighty rivers, or crashing waves, are decisions guided by their natural rhythms and relationships with the Earth. It chooses paths, creates connections, and sustains life. As a living being, water has freedoms and rights that humanity must recognize and uphold.

Viewing water as a sentient being changes our relationship with it. It demands that we move beyond seeing it as a commodity to be managed and instead honour it as a relative to be respected and protected. This shift in perspective is critical as climate change intensifies and water systems face increasing threats.

A Call to Protect the Waters

The phrase “Water is Life” is not merely a slogan—it is a declaration of the sacred responsibility we hold as caretakers of the waters. Protecting water means preserving its autonomy, ensuring its freedom to flow, and fulfilling its life-giving role. It means combating climate change, reducing pollution, and restoring the natural cycles that support water’s spirit and electrical essence.

Indigenous-led water protection initiatives offer valuable guidance, blending traditional ecological knowledge with modern science to safeguard this sacred resource. These efforts often emphasize collaboration, reciprocity, and long-term thinking, reflecting the principles of harmony and balance that water itself embodies.

Honouring the Spirit of Water

Water connects all life in an intricate, electrical symphony. It holds the memory of its journeys and the power to sustain every being it touches. Recognizing water’s spirit, autonomy, and agency inspires us to treat it with the reverence it deserves. It challenges us to align our actions with the natural laws that have governed this planet for millennia.

As we face the growing challenges of climate change, let us remember that water is not separate from us—it is within us, around us, and part of every heartbeat on Earth. By protecting water, we honour its role as a decision-maker for life and ensure the survival of all beings who rely on its sacred gifts.

 

By Rye Karonhiowanen Barberstock

 

(Image Credit: Jong Marshes, Unsplash)

After completing a Rural Waterline Feasibility Study in 2017 and an On-Reserve Source Water Protection Plan in 2018, the Saddle Lake Cree Nation retained Urban Systems Ltd. to complete a Climate Change and Source Water Vulnerability Assessment of the Nation’s water source, Saddle Lake, to understand the viability of the Nation’s water supply under impacts from climate change, and increased water demand due to population and economic growth. In October 2019, the Climate Change and Source Water Vulnerability Assessment was released.

Saddle Lake Cree Nation began this project by engaging our youth, elders and general membership in a dialogue about water, climate change and perceived adaptability to address water security. In past projects we have engaged our community in a similar way but have found it difficult to extend the results of the engagement and the project itself beyond those in attendance at the sessions. Because we are a community that traditionally shares knowledge through oral teachings, the idea of documenting the project in a video was proposed. The scope of this project included community engagement sessions, projecting future climate change events related to Saddle Lake, a water quantity assessment, a water quality assessment, and a documentary with the intention that this video will be used to educate our members about our impact assessment of climate change on our ability to fulfill our growing community’s basic need for water, as well as our efforts to preserve the lands, resources and culture of our people.

The community engagement sessions brought forward knowledge that validated historical hydrological modeling which informed future climate change projections. The Assessment revealed that increasing temperatures will magnify the negative impacts associated with contaminants entering the lake. To protect Saddle Lake from such impacts, the Saddle Lake Cree Nation recognized the need to implement the strategic plan previously identified in their 2017 Protection Plan. The Assessment found that Saddle Lake water levels are expected to increase, ensuring adequate water quantity for the community. Another outcome of the Assessment revealed that the water treatment plant is equipped to handle changes in water quality however additional funding is required to invest in the water treatment system and to train the next generation of operators (a vulnerability noted by this study).

Overall, the Assessment revealed that Saddle Lake will remain a viable long-term water source for the community. However, due to the importance of Saddle Lake as a water source for the community, a number of adaptation strategies were outlined for consideration and implementation to increase the resiliency of Saddle Lake and to ensure the continued supply of clean drinking water to the community. These adaptation strategies included:

  • Implementation of a buffer zone around the lake
  • Raising awareness of the Source Water Protection Plan in the community
  • Eliminate wastewater outfalls around the lake
  • Development of a water quality monitoring program
  • Development of a formal Water Treatment Plan performance monitoring program
  • Development of user-friendly summaries of day to day operations
  • Development of a standard operating procedures for the Water Treatment Plant
  • Confirmation that pathogen reduction recommendations are being met
  • Assessment of the environmental impacts of the Water Treatment Plant residual disposal
  • Hiring of an additional Water Treatment Plant operator
  • Conduct a full analysis of operations and maintenance costs for the Water Treatment Plant
  • Conduct a cost benefit analysis of continuing to operate and maintain the Water Treatment Plant
  • Completion of floodplain mapping for the lake
  • Investigation of the influence of neighboring communities and beaver damns on the inflow to Saddle Lake
  • Collect a depth profile of Saddle Lake to improve the understanding of the lake’s storage volume
  • Continue to pursue the rural waterline expansion project to improve water delivery to our homes
  • Engagement with the youth on source water protection, water treatment, and climate change
  • Conduction of a feasibility study for developing an emergency back-up water supply
  • Decommissioning of old groundwater wells

By commissioning the Climate Change and Source Water Vulnerability Assessment, the Saddle Lake Cree Nation were able to gain a better understanding of the future of their water supply, Saddle Lake, under climate change and could begin developing plans on how to address such changes.

Saddle Lake Water Treatment Plant

Figure 1. Saddle Lake Water Treatment Plant

 

Blog Article by: Saddle Lake Cree Nation