Maintaining Balance...What are you going to do about it?!?

“So, what are you going to do about it?” These words echo in my memory, striking deep into my spirit. They remind me of the choice between passive observation and active participation. These words were spoken by one of our Grandmothers who walked this earth with purpose, carrying water to and from the north, south, east, and west shores for the protection of "nibi"—water, the essence of life.

I remember when Idle No More was at its peak, with voices rising in unity to protect Mother Earth. During a documentary screening, I had the privilege of hearing this Grandmother speak of her journey—how she walked, carrying nibi, and how others joined her along the way. It was an act of profound love for humanity and the land that sustains us all.

She spoke with a soft voice, yet her words carried the strength of the very water she honored. Her question—"What are you going to do about it?"—was not just rhetorical; it was a call to action. We can be upset. We can talk. Or we can act.

Each of us must reflect: Where do I stand? What is my responsibility? What can I do? Too often, we believe that one person alone cannot make a difference. But our Grandmother water walker did. She walked, she carried nibi, and many followed. Her purpose was clear: to protect life, to ensure that this sacred element would not be exploited or desecrated.

We can sit idly by, allowing destruction to continue, or we can pick up our own pail, walk our own journey, and take action against the injustices harming our lands and waters. If we leave it for future generations, we are burdening them with the consequences of our inaction. What happened to the teaching of looking forward seven generations, ensuring that those who come after us inherit a world still rich in the gifts of Mother Earth?

An Elder once spoke of the fragile balance in which we exist. Creation allowed for humanity to be here under very specific conditions, and we were given a responsibility—to live in balance with all life. The moment we measure success through monetary wealth instead of harmony with the land, we step out of balance. The destruction of our waters, forests, and air threatens not just the Earth, but our very existence.

If we continue on this path, we create a future where humanity may not survive. The land and water do not belong to us—we belong to them. To harm the Earth is to harm ourselves. The question remains, and it is more urgent than ever:

"What are you going to do about it?!?"

#IndigenousRights #WaterIsLife #LandBack #IdleNoMore #ProtectTheSacred #ClimateJustice #SevenGenerations #ActNow #Reconciliation #IndigenousWisdom #MotherEarth #Sustainability #IndigenousAdvocacy #NoMoreStolenLand