Wachay! Welcome!

Last fall, we paddled down the Attawpiskat River in recognition of Treaty promises to share the land, to be honest, and to be kind.
We were inspired, moved and grateful for the outpouring of support we received. 

Now, we share our trip with you and what it meant to us, as paddlers, helpers and as land defenders. and invite you to watch our new short film, 'We Are the River.'

Our Paddle Route 

In the Fall of 2023, the Friends of the Attawapiskat River hosted multi week paddle down the Attawapiskat River with youth and community leaders from across Treaty 9 communities, including Attawapiskat and Neskantaga First Nations. We are hoping to get back out on the river in the Summer of 2024 but need your help to make this happen!

This paddle is our statement, in recognition of who we are, as Treaty peoples,
in honouring of promises to share the land, to be honest, to be kind.

Youth and leaders began the trip in Neskantaga Lake (some 500 km North of Thunder Bay).

This journey is in recognition of our spiritual connection to these lands and waters.

Along this 240 mile route, we held hold ceremonies at our starting point, the DeBeers diamond mine site, and at Kattawapiskat (a word meaning 'a path between the Rock), before returning to community.

Standing Up to Protect our Lands and Waters

Our homelands, where we gather food, harvest medicines and have ceremony, are threatened by the proposed 'Ring of Fire.'

The Ring of Fire threatens to cause unprecedented change to these lands,
which are our homelands and the second largest intact muskeg (or peatland) ecosystem in the world ecosystem.

While the Ring of Fire has been touted for its potential abundance of critical minerals required for a shift to renewable energy, such as chromite, copper, and gold, these are our homelands, and the home of the Omushkego Nations, who are 40,000 Indigenous peoples across 34 communities.

We depend on these lands for food, and medicine,
as well as cultural and sacred spaces for traditional practices and ceremony.

Meet the Friends

The Friends of the Attawapiskat River are an Indigenous grassroots group based in Treaty 9, in the far north of Ontario, Canada, dedicated to protecting the health of the waters, people, and communities living downstream of the proposed ‘Ring of Fire.’

As Treaty 9 people, the Friends have a shared responsibility to protect Treaty lands from exploitation and degradation. This means safeguarding the integrity of the boreal and muskeg of the Hudson Bay-James Bay lowlands, its significant contribution to mitigating climate change, and the health of their grandchildren and those not yet born.

We Need Your Support!

All donations will directly support the purchase of equipment we need to make this trip happen.

 Expenses include:

• 4 prospector canoes - $2500 each
• Shipping of canoes from Pickle Lake to Neskantaga First Nation - $10,000
• 16 lifejackets - $100 each
• 16 barrels (60L) - $150 each 
• Charter flight for paddlers - $25,000 
• Food & supplies - $5,000 
• Honorarium for trip leaders - $5,000 each 
• Sweat lodge tarps (2 black, 2 white) - $1500 each

 Questions? Or looking to donate in other ways?

Reach out to us at info@attawapiskatriverprotectors.com

#EveryChildMatters #WaterIsLife #FARPaddle