The Great Lakes Commons Map is an interactive, online map that documents stories from the Great Lakes regions. Image: greatlakescommonsmap.org
An organization focused on connecting the cultures of the Great Lakes region is raising money to share the stories of indigenous leaders.
These leaders are Anishinaabe women, members of Native American groups living in the Canadian Great Lakes area. Their stories will be told in photos, sound, video and text and shared on the Great Lakes Commons Map, said creator of the Great Lakes Commons map Paul Baines.
The Great Lakes Commons is an organization that fosters a community dedicated to protecting the Great Lakes, Baines said. The online map is a collaborative project to share photos, videos and personal stories about the Great Lakes.
It is important that people respect the water and not take chances with the precious resource, said Becky Big Canoe, one of the Anishinaabe women working with the project. The Great Lakes “may seem so large that they are indestructible, but they are not. Something so essential for life should not be taken for granted.”
The organization already reached its goal of $3,000; however, donations will still be accepted here until October 31. The proceeds will pay for production costs of these stories.
Baines said that the Anishinaabe perspective will strengthen the idea that the map is a resource for all people of the Great Lakes region. The additional funds will allow the organization to share more Anishinaabe water teachings from the participants, he said.
“The Great Lakes Commons project is trying to braid together these longstanding, powerful teachings and relationships and show how we can better treat these waters,” Baines said.
“I hope… people wake up to the beautiful resource that we have,” Big Canoe said.
Eds. note: On October 14 the spelling of Anishinaabe was corrected.
And if we get the most number of donations (any amount) we get a bonus $1,000 from the National Freshwater Fund. Open till the end of October.