WATER IS LIFE!
Nookomis Josephine Mandamin is seriously ill and we want to help her recover her full health. We are Water Docs and our mission is to evoke a spirit of reverence for water; to inform about threats that imperil water; to inspire citizen action to protect water. We believe that water ripples deeply in each of us and to stir that rippling is to awaken action. We also believe we are fully aligned with Grandmother Josephine and her mission.
Since we are all connected to the water, we strive to follow the teachings and example of Anishinaabe Elder and Grandmother Josephine Mandamin, Ogichidaa Kwe of Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory and of the Midewiwin Way of Life. Josephine has unselfishly petitioned for the healing and restoration of Nibi (water) for many years and as such, she has come to be known as The Water Walker. Leading by example these past many years, Josephine has walked around and blessed each of The Great Lakes and many other bodies of water. She has inspired the creation of and galvanized a network of Sacred Water Walkers and Water Protectors across Turtle Island (North America) and has encouraged all women and men to take up this work for the healing of Nibi and our great Mother Earth.
Josephine is far too humble to ever ask for help but contributing to her barrier to wellness is an unresolved issue arising from her past work through OI Leasing and Native Leasing Services.
Former employees of OI Leasing were straddled with suffocating tax debt from years of service working for First Nations people off reserve. Revenue Canada (CRA) took these people to court for uncollected income tax and lost, but had the ruling overturned and began aggressively pursuing First Nations defendants for back taxes, interest and accrued penalties.
More background information on this case can be found here.
Since June 2018, some work has been done to relieve former employees of tax interest and penalties. If she is successfully reassessed, her current $59,000 claimed debt may revert back to the original tax amount of $32,000. In the meantime, we are hoping to raise enough money to assist Josephine to relieve her of this unfair financial burden. So far, through the effort of one of Josephine's spiritual sons, almost $10,000 has been raised toward this cause.
The situation has become a cause of stress for Grandmother Josephine and her family and, we believe, an impediment to her full rest and the recovery of her health and well-being, and her peace of mind.
The CRA has threatened her and has been garnishing her hard-earned pension, which has affected her ability to meet household expenses. She lives on very humble means, while still travelling here and there when able, always continuing to work for the People and for the Water.
She has unselfishly dedicated years of her life to others from her work for the Ontario Native Women's Association; her work as an Elder when she was raised up in the Lodge; to her calling as a Water Walker and birthing of the Sacred Water Walks. She has inspired us to answer the call of the Water and take meaningful and dedicated action on behalf of Nibi. She is truly a respected Grandmother of the great Anishinabek Nation.
After all these years of devoted public service, to gether we can end this outstanding issue for Josephine and her family once and for all. Collectively, we can certainly give back to her in this very tangible and meaningful way.
Please consider donating any amount you can to help pull Nookomis out from this ordeal and back onto the path toward good health and happiness. Help us make the season of giving a wonderful way to show our gratitude, love and respect for this very special woman.
For our Grandmother and for the Water... Chi Miigwetch.
