Welcome to Live Updates 2008
This page will be updated daily from April 26 to May 12 with Water Walk 2008 news.
May 14 2008
Megwetch to the Good Vickie Dowd, Noreen and the men from Hannahville who came to help us to complete the walk and Chi Megwetch for their good & kind "Ho"
We started out this morning at 4:00 a.m. EST, it was a bit drizzling. Last night though, when we got inside for feast, the thunders came with rain & hail.
Its 7:00 a.m. benn walking for a few hours now we have about 10 km or 7 miles to go
We completed the walk at 9:30 a.m. and had a feast and water ceremony.
The Little Boy Water Drum has travelled around three of the Great Lakes. He has sat and shared his song teachings with the many different tribes that live along the waters. The walks may be finished but this year there has been so much publicity that, hopefully, it has made more people aware of our concerns in relation to the water.
It feels good to be on the Road home, I can hardly wait to see my grandson, but I will miss walking and meeting different people. We will go home and rest a little while and then get ready to leave for the Three Fires Spring Ceremonies.
Migwetch again to all who we met along the way and safe journeys home to all
May 13 2008
May 12 2008
6:32 a.m. We're finally back near the lake.
8:26 a.m. Thanks to all the members of the Onieda Nation who helped us walk through Green Bay, the food and lodging was excellent.
10:11 a.m. We are on County Road S about 15 miles to Oconto, tried to sing this morning but its to get in both verses in before the walkers catch up to us. Jacob is amazed at how much we ladies can walk.
2:54 p.m. gonna stay at another casino, probably just fall asleep again
5:00 p.m. we are about 5 miles from Marinette
May 11 2008
7:11 a.m. Near Green Leaf, hope we get some fast walkers, got a lot of miles to cover
EBB will be working at Shingwauk University, to register or for more info: Shingwauk University
4:00 p.m. Today's route - we are going around Green Bay from county road U to J to EB to S to Y to Marinette then 35 to Bark River.
6:40 p.m. We had two other tribal people, a Ho'Chun and a Navajo and I can't remeber if I told you that Maria is a Pima.
7:11 p.m. Past Green Bay, now heading back to the lake then to Marinette.
7:50 p.m. Oh I forgot there is a lady from China, her company flew her to Chicago to take pictures which will be of artwork in Toronto.
May 10 2008
4:30 a.m. Saturday in Escanaba, heading to Sault St Marie for meeting then heading back to Green bay to finish walk
May 09 2008
6:15 a.m. On the road again, spent the night at the Onieda Radisson hotel in Green Bay, going back this afternoon for feast and social dance, heading to Soo for 3 Fires meeting after that then back to wherever we leave off today.
7:50 a.m. We are at Jct 32 & 57 to Green Bay.
11:16 a.m. 40 miles to Green Bay, the youth are on their way too so we might make it pretty close today.
1:26 p.m. Chilton just south of Green Bay.
3:54 p.m. we topped at 3:00 on our way to Onieda nation for feast and dance.
4:38 p.m. get people to check the internet www.wfrv.com its a tv station, Mom on there.
7:23 p.m. we are heading to the Soo we'll driver as far as we can.
May 08 2008
9:22 am we're on LL to Sheboygan
11:43 am Got new hide, it was Fedexed here by Tara, ever cool, Chi Megwetch, just re-tying him now
3:32 pm Sheboygan, next Green Bay
6:09 pm Chi Megwetch to John Irvine who helped us through Chicago and Waukegan and Toyota; Chi Megwetch to Greg, Donna & the Indian Community School for all their help; Chi Megwetch to Sue and Oralann for coming out and walking with us; Chi Megwetch to Goldie, Mary and the Menominee tribe (Keshena) for bringing all the youth to come out today and walking with us.
May 07 2008
4:30 am on our way to Milwaukee
5:41 am on 541 south of Milwaukee
1:09 pm cops stopped by me and gave directions safely to our next stop
2:41 pm we're on lakeshore drive just past Gafton
3:30 pm resting by lake @ Concordia University
May 06 2008
10:34 am Milwaukee 18 miles
Jacob and Josh were cruising around with the Mayor in his Lincoln Continental
1:15 pm Mom doing a presentation at Discovery World in Milwaukee
9:09 pm OMG we had a good feast, and now we are in this huge hotel we could fit 5 people on the bed
Discovery World Agenda
May 05 2008
4:30 am on the road again
6:30 at Waukegan
9: 56 am One of the mayors of Racine or Milwaukee is gonna come walk with us soon as we get closer there
10:15 am Time Magazine caught up with us
3:00 pm in Kenosha
3:35 pm We are on #32 from Kenosha to Milwaukee
4:54 pm We are in Racine, meeting with Mayor & paparatzy
6:30 pm The Sienna Center is feasting us tonight and we'll be spending the night here too. Its a convent, food is good, bringing in a Big Drum after we eat to sing for us. Mayor still with us and an alderman from White Earth, there's another from Mom's reserve they just met.
Mayor presented Mom with a proclamation that May 5 as Mother Earth Water Walk Day in Racine, ever cool eh!
May 04 2008
Found Mom again at 5:00 a.m. 5:40 a.m. at 57th and Lakeshore, gonna have to walk a ways no parking spots, low battery gonna have to shut phone off.
Had to get off lakeshore couldn't find and parking places, walkers are on green bay road and Winnietka at 3:45 p.m.
6:30 pm stopped walking at old elm road and 131, walk again in the morning, couldn't tie the little boy cause the hide is getting thin and holey, need new hide.
May 03 2008
4 more women found us.
5:30 am, found Mom she musta left at 4:00 when she knocked on our door.
At 12:40, getting close to Chicago nearing the Gary/Chicago regional airport close to Whiting.
I made a wrong turn and went unto freeway 90 but we are back on Columbus. Got police escort off the highway.
3:30 going through Whiting should be in Illinois soon.
Stopped at 87th and Burling at 5:30 and now we are at the American Indian Center and we are sleeping here too. John Irvine, first degree initiate will take us back to the stopping place, he is our contact here in Chicago.
May 02 2008
Its 3:50 am ready to roll
We went 53 miles with only 7 walkers, Mom says to let everyone know. Lady named Robin said EBB was going to join us in Wisc.
It's 7:00 past Saint Joseph we're on Red Arrow Highway and Ridge Street.
Passing Donald Cook Nuclear plant @ 8:00 pm.
Crossed the Indiana border at 2:00 pm CST
We stopped for the evening at Junction 520 and #12, Gary Indiana is about 4 miles from here
May 01 2008
#2 Blue Star Hwy to Red Arrow to #12 to Lakeshore Drive in Chicago from there I have to route our walk
Its hard for us to get access to the lake cause its mostly privately owned, yesterday finally got to see the Lake at Van Buren Park.
Stopped @ Overt Park for lunch at 12:40. Some people brought over hamburgers, fries and frybread and we would like to thank them very much for their generosity. When we get to Chicago we will be getting a private tour of the museum that holds the native American artifacts which are not part of the rest of the exhibits.
Stopped 1 mile from Benton Harbor @ 6:30 pm.
April 30 2008
Stopped @ 2:30 Lake Street and A2, went to Hope College for presentation, now we're at Pokagan tribe of Potawatomi for feast and sleeping in cabins
At 8:00 this morning EST, we are going through Douglas on Blue Star Highway.
At 3:30 pm this afternoon, we will rest the staff and water then going to Hope College
At high noon we will have our 4th day pipe ceremony and untie/retie the little boy, gotta find a good spot on the lake.
April 29 2008
We have lost some walkers, we are on Butternut Drive to Holland, Pine Avenue Michigan Avenue, S Washington Avenue then #2 or Blue Star highway
At 8:00 this morning (Tuesday, April 29), we are at Rosy Mound and Lakeshore Driver, we missed meeting with the Muskegon Mayor because we walked through too fast, I guess they don't understand that once we start walking in the morning, we don't stop until sunset except to break for lunch.
Brian and community walked for awhile, Punkin and Dave were with us. Then there were others from Muskegon and also from the church there. Also have Jim (Vietnam Veteran) and an elder named Mary who have been with since we started.
April 28 2008
Route we are on now is heading south on N64 to Skeel Rd then to Whitehall Rd to Muskegon
Had to replot route through Muskegon cause there is a parade on Webster
Stopping for lunch at Michigan's wild water park
Stopped for the day at Grand Haven Rd and Sterberg Rd in Muskegon at 6:30 pm
We are now in Muskeegan, Michigan, in a motel. We will be walking out of here in the morning and arrive in Holland tomorrow late afternoon. Punkin has been with us all the way. Great support from the Michigan. The Send off was fantastic. We we presented with a new Eagle Staff and our Water Pail has been repaired. No more Duct Tape. We have been visited by the Thunders on Friday night(welcome committee) and Saturday, the Little Boy was with us and Bebamekeway Corbiere.
April 27 2008
We lost Mom in the morning and found her about 11:00 am near Pentwater.
Stopped at 31 N and Lakeshore Rd for lunch
Stopping at Hayes Rd and N64th north of Muskegon for the night, staying at a church overnight
April 26 2008
Food and ceremonies at the casino 9:00 and 12:00, 1st St. Beach at 2:00 for gathering Lake Michigan Water and beginning the walk.
Left Manistee on Saturday, April 26 Brian C and his community are walking with us for awhile. There are 12 full time walkers with us.
Stopped at Ponch's Pond/Camp for supper and then stopped at Fountain Rd and Anderson Rd for the night close to Ludington.