Autumn Peltier is an environmental activist who started her quest at just 8 years old. She is from the Wiikwemkoong First Nation on Mantoulin Island in Northern Ontario. Her goal is to solve the issue of the lack of safe drinking water in Indigenous communities across Canada. She is inspired by her Aunt, who is a Water Walker, and works to nourish this sacred element. As Indigenous peoples, First Nations explain that water is sacred because of how it connects all life forms, along with the importance of understanding that water is the giver of all life and without access to clean water, all life will perish.
In her keynote speech to the United Nations General Assembly on World Water Day in 2018, Peltier made this point “Canada is not a third world country, but here in my country the Indigenous people live in third world conditions. Boil water advisories are still in existence and have been for over 20 years in some First Nation communities”.
As a result of her study of Ojibway/Odawa traditional knowledge and heritage, she learned that water is sacred and soon became an advocate for clean drinking water in First Nation communities. At just 14, Autumn has travelled all over to spread the message of the importance of clean water and it’s sacredness and has become known as the Water Warrior.
Recognized by the Assembly of First Nations as a water protector, she has received the Ontario Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers, and a WE Day Youth in Action Award (12 & under). She was nominated for the 2019 International Children’s Peace Prize by the David Suzuki Foundation.
She confronted Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and through tears, asked him to do more to keep Canadian Indigenous communities from drinking unsafe water. As a result, the Canadian government is working with First Nation communities across Canada with the goal to improve the infrastructure and eliminate the need for boil water advisories by the end of 2021.
Recognized by the North American Association for Environment Education as one of 30 under 30, Autumn was named the Chief Water Commissioner by the Anishinabek Nation in April of 2019, a position previously held by her great-aunt, Josephine Mandamin. On behalf of 40 First Nations across Ontario, she is an advocate for water protection of the Great Lakes. At the Global Landscapes Forum in September of 2019, Peltier addressed the audience “We can’t eat money or drink oil. All across these lands, we know somewhere where someone can’t drink the water. Why so many and why have gone without for so long?”
As a young adult, the environment is something very important to me. As I continue to learn about the far greater impact of these issues on Indigenous communities, my heart is broken. Autumn is a hero to me and to other environmental activists and Indigenous communities across Canada. She calls us all to action to “warrior up” and take a stand for the health of both the water and Indigenous communities in Canada. We accept your challenge.
