People of the Heart honor Nibi (Water) with 5th Annual 90-Mile Water Walk

By Michele Bourdieu

People of the Heart Water Walkers begin their 90-mile Walk for the Water (Nibi) in Copper Harbor on October 7, 2023. (Photo © and courtesy Steve Brimm)

BARAGA -- Despite some rainy, chilly weather, participants in the 5th annual People of the Heart Water Walk completed the Walk on Indigenous Peoples' Day -- October 9, 2023.

Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) members Gichigamikwe Terri Swartz and Kathleen Smith, have co-organized this annual event since 2018 to honor the water and give thanks for its benefits. They follow the example of Grandmother Josephine Mandamin, founder of the Mother Earth Water Walkers, who walked around the Great Lakes from 2003 to 2017 to raise awareness about the need to fight water pollution and contaminated water on Indigenous reserves in Canada. Grandmother Josephine and the Mother Earth Water Walkers walked an estimated 17,000 km around the five Great Lakes.*

Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) member Terri Denomie (Gichigamikwe Terri Swartz) left, joins Josephine Mandamin of Thunder Bay, Ont., during the 2011 Mother Earth Water Walk, on the way to the final destination, Bad River, Wis. (Keweenaw Now file photo © 2011 and courtesy Roxanne Ornelas)*

Participants in the Walk include many who work behind the scenes to make it a success, as well as those who drive vans to support the relay of Walkers and bring them nourishment.

In a Facebook post following this year's Walk, Swartz posted the following: "Without our core group of participants whether it be Walkers, organizers, food chiefs, cooks, runners, and those of you who donated money, supplies, prayers, or your valuable time, I graciously thank you from the bottom of my heart. This event could not happen if People of the Heart Water Walkers weren't so dedicated."

On Oct. 7, participants in the 90-mile People of the Heart Water Walk pass Lake Superior at Great Sand Bay on their way to Baraga, MI, where they will arrive on Indigenous Peoples' Day, Oct. 9, 2023. Women lead the ceremony carrying a copper vessel filled with Nibi, the Anishinaabe word for Water. The water continually moves through the 1842 ceded territory throughout each of the three days. An eagle staff is carried beside them as protector. (Videos by Keweenaw Now)

This map (blue line) shows the approximate route of the Water Walk between Copper Harbor and the Sand Point Lighthouse. (Map courtesy People of the Heart Water Walkers)

Water Walkers reached Mohawk for the beginning of Day 2 of their Walk (Oct. 8) with a destination of the Chassell area. They followed M26 from Calumet/Laurium and then crossed the Portage Lift Bridge in Houghton, continuing on US 41 toward Chassell (see map above).

Pastor Julie Belew from Holy Cross Lutheran Church, located on the reservation of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, participated in the Walk both as a Walker and a driver. She told Keweenaw Now she especially enjoys the conversations that take place with the young adults who join the Walkers.

Here Pastor Julie describes the Walk on Day 2, Sunday, Oct. 8:

"In the early morning hours of dim light we picked up the water about five miles north of Mohawk. This is my favorite time to carry the water -- when all is quiet and prayers flow as the water leads our footsteps. It is unknown who will join us for the day and a welcomed reprieve when others arrive. As in the past couple of years, the same vibrant Tech students, along with some young adults from the community, show up and bring their friends. I love this group! Composed of 8 - 10 people from all walks of life, they are passionate about protecting and caring for the water. They bring hope for the next generation with their determined and faithful spirit to make the world a better place. The sense of community with a common purpose is something I deeply appreciate during these water walks. We all do it for the water!"

Gichigamikwe Terri Swartz is pictured here on Day 2 as Walkers continue along the Portage Canal. Pastor Julie Belew, in the background, comes back from offering prayers of tobacco to the water. (Photo © and courtesy Gichigamikwe Terri Swartz)

On Day 2, after crossing the bridge to Houghton, Walkers follow the waterfront path toward Chassell. (Photo © and courtesy Gichigamikwe Terri Swartz)

Pastor Julie carries the copper pail of water on Day 2. (Photo © and courtesy Gichigamikwe Terri Swartz) 

Co-organizer Kathleen Smith is pictured here with a group of Walkers on Day 2, when they arrive just outside Chassell. In the foreground are co-organizer Gichigamikwe Terri Swartz and her mother, Barbara Swartz, who both walked and drove a van this year. (Photo © and courtesy Kathleen Smith)

On Day 3, Oct. 9, Indigenous Peoples' Day, the Walkers headed for Sand Point, their final destination, near the Ojibwa Campground in Baraga, to return water to the lake.

Florine Chosa, mother of Kathleen Smith, joined the Walkers on the 3rd day and carried the pail of water. She missed last year's Walk for health reasons but was happy to join the group this year.

Walking toward Sand Point on Day 3, Florine Chosa carries the copper pail of water, with the Rev. Bucky Beach carrying the eagle staff for protection. Rev. Beach is retired pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Houghton and husband of Pastor Julie Belew. (Photo © and courtesy Kathleen Smith)

"It was a nice walk, glad that I could make it this year!" Florine said.

On Indigenous Peoples' Day, Oct. 9, participants in the People of the Heart Water Walk arrive at Sand Point, near Baraga, for their final water ceremony, concluding the 90-mile walk from Copper Harbor to honor water gifts. (Video by Keweenaw Now)

At Sand Point, near the lighthouse, Gichigamikwe Terri Swartz and Florine Chosa return the water to Keweenaw Bay (Lake Superior). The Walkers sing a song for the water in the Anishinaabe (Ojibwa) language. (Video by Keweenaw Now)

Two Michigan Tech students in ecology who participated in the Water Walk on Day 3 spoke to Keweenaw Now about its importance to them.

Michigan Tech students Abraham Stone of Kewadin, Mich., and Madalyn Tudor-Duncan of Bay City, Mich., speak to Keweenaw Now about their participation in the People of the Heart Water Walk. (Video by Keweenaw Now)

Following the final water ceremony, People of the Heart Water Walkers pause for a group photo at Sand Point. (Photo by Keweenaw Now)

Kathleen Smith explained what this Water Walk means to her.

"The People of the Heart Water Walk is about Nibi," Smith said. "As we sing and pray about good clean water we also heal ourselves. This walk is about the healing of the water and also of our mind, body and spirit. Doing this for the water is what connects us all!"

* See our 2011 article, "KBIC welcomes 2011 Mother Earth Water Walk participants."