b"WATER AS PERSONHOODFollowing the Flow:A Movement Swells in OntarioInspiration from the Muteshekau-Shipu is now spreading. In Ontario,Alderville First Nation and Bkejwanong Territory (Walpole Island First Nation) are both exploring ways to recognizethe legal personhood of their ownwaterwaysRice Lake and theSt. Clair River, respectively.Taynar Simpson is the Chief of Alderville First Nation, and he calls his communitys work towards legal person-hood for Rice Lake a passion of his.Rice Lake is his communitys bread basket, says Chief Simpson. Its an integral part of Alderville and being a part of this region.Community-sustaining rice Aerial view of the northern tip of Walpole Island First Nation looking southwest along the St. Clair River.harvesting and duck hunting were made (Photo credit: Karen Abel.) possible because of the lake, he adds. Its not just about territory, its about food sovereignty.When Simpson became Chief about Yenny Vega Crdenas, presidentWestern legal systems that have longtwo years ago, he made restoring Rice of the International Observatory onseparated nature from law. Lake a priority. The lake has experienced Natures Rights based in Montreal,extensive chemical pollution and ecolog-helped guide the case. For her, it wasWhile the Muteshekau-Shipusical devastation over the decades. Chief more than an environmental milestone. rights have yet to be tested in court, thisSimpson says there are environmental It was deeply inspiring, she says. Itdeclaration offers an important tool tolaws in place to protect the lake, but wasnt just a legal innovationit was athe communities that live along and relythey are not being adequately enforced. on the river, should they ever need toThe Nation needs new ways to protect cultural and spiritual journey. It allowedthe lake. Without any mandate or core us to bridge Indigenous worldviews,defend the water within the Canadianfunding to take on the task, he says, where rivers are living ancestors, withlegal system. building relationships with supportive partners has been key to the process.In particular, Alderville has estab-lished partnerships with the surrounding municipalities, including Port Hope, all seven Williams Treaties First Nations, and local conservation, hunting and angling associations. Together, these part-ners have either created local declarations Powering with Purpose Our members power Ontario communities by operatingvoicing their support for Rice Lakes and maintaining nuclear, hydroelectric, gas, wind and biomass generating stations. They then ensure thislegal personhood case, or have agreed to energy makes it to your home through sustaining and repairing Ontario's transmission and distribution lines,support the initiative financially and to at all times of the day, and in all weather conditions. appoint representatives to serve on an The PWUs main focus is fair representation, and we do that through listening and engaging in open dialogueeventual guardianship advisory bodyto learn how we can make our communities better for future generations. akin to the group created to oversee and We are here, protect the Muteshekau-Shipu.at the service of people,in harmony with the land.Chief Simpson has been pleased that so many other groups are joining in this FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT OUR WEBSITE partnership and see the value of these www.pwu.ca environmental efforts. So far, theres ntpower.ca FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA@PWUConnects not one person we havent been able to convince that this is a good thing,he says. 16l I ssue2 2025/26C hIefs ofo ntarIoA dvocAte magazIne"