b'WATER AS PERSONHOODGlobal Alliance for the Rights of Nature protests in NYC. (Photo credit: Lisa Weatherbee.)but sees great promise. Were inspired byWe drink, bathe, fish and foragea community water declaration to other First Nations, like Alderville, whofrom that water, Altiman says. Weresecuring research and resources for a are leading the way, she says. For us,raised on everything that comes from it.personhood case. Ultimately, this will this could be another tool to strengthenWe love our water. We want to protect it.take a community effort, she says. We our ongoing efforts to protect the water. We know how vital it is. For Altiman,need to build understanding, and then For Walpole and Altiman, the issuewater protection begins not in court ormobilize people. We dont want to rush is personal, she says. The St. Clair River,policy, but in spirit. things that are as important asfor which they are seeking legal person- We have to start with spirit, sheour water.hood status, flows south from Sarnia,says. As Anishinaabeespecially asThe Complicationshome to Chemical Valley, one of CanadasAnishinaabekwewe have a responsi- of Recognitionmost heavily industrialized regions, wherebility to speak up for creation. BecauseStill, not everyone sees legal person-there are over 60 refineries and chemicalcreation cant speak up for itself in thesehood as a perfect solution. Critics plants. The small parcel of land is homecolonial environments. warn that entrusting settler courts with to roughly 40 per cent of Canadas chem- That sense of spiritual guardianshipprotecting land and water can entrench ical industry, and its pollution has longforms the foundation of any futurethe same colonial systems that caused impacted local ecosystems and health. legal step, she explains, from draftingharm in the first place.STRENGTHEN YOUR VOICEREACH ASSOCIATION MEMBERS AND INDUSTRY PARTNERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WITH TAILORED COMMUNICATIONS SOLUTIONSRobert Thompson, Senior Vice President robertt@mediaedge.ca 647-494-422918l I ssue2 2025/26C hIefs ofo ntarIoA dvocAte magazIne'