Water and Justice Resource Guide
July 23, 2025
Sarah Deckert and Shaylyn Pelikys

The Nibi Declaration of Treaty #3 begins, “Nibi (water) is alive and has a spirit. It is the lifeblood of our mother (aki) and connects everything. It can give, sustain and take life.” Indigenous knowledges teach us to relate to water not as a resource to be extracted but as a living being to be loved and respected. As you engage with the podcasts, documentaries, books and other resources included in this preliminary resource guide, we hope that you will do so while holding on to the central truth of the Nibi Declaration: “Nibi (water) is alive and has a spirit.”

Water Justice is Menstruation Justice: A Conversation with Co-Resistors– Graphic Recording
Water Justice is Menstruation Justice: A Conversation with Co-Resistors-- Graphic Recording
February 20, 2025
Roxanne Balan

In February 2025 Just Waters and the Centre for Human Rights Research hosted a panel on the topic, “Water Justice is Menstruation Justice: A Conversation with Co-Resistors.” We were honored to open the event with a Water & Tobacco Ceremony with Knowledge Keepers Ramona Milliea and Bill Milliea.
Following a presentation from Veronica Brown of Moon Time Connections, a panel discussion moderated by Chrstine Cyr (University of Manitoba) and Dr. Lisa Smith (Douglas College) explored the intersection of water justice and menstruation justice in Canada. Panelists included Emma Cowman (University of Manitoba), Alicia Horton (Douglas College), and Janessa Roy (MTC).
A graphic recording of the discussion was created by Roxanne Balan.

Connecting Gender and Water Justice: A Zine
Connecting Gender and Water Justice: A Zine
March 21, 2025
Just Waters

Created by the student research assistants in the Just Waters project, this zine is in commemoration of Women’s Month and World Water Day in 2025, with the aim of connecting water justice and gender equality. The pieces included in the zine were created to celebrate the role of women in protecting water systems, and to call for stronger connections between environmental and gender advocacy.
This zine features the work of the Onaman Collective, which is formed by Indigenous artists Isaac Murdoch and Christi Belcourt. These banners were created for use in actions related to water and land protection. Read more about the banners here.

The Lake St. Martin Story
March 12, 2025
Cameron Armstrong

Water control structures have disempowered and displaced First Nations, destroying livelihoods in the name of development, upholding colonial systems and perpetuating environmental racism. One such case is that of Lake St. Martin and the Lake St. Martin First Nation.
As part of the Just Waters project, student RA Cameron Armstrong wrote a plain language summary giving an account of 50+ years of artificial flooding that have impacted the Lake St. Martin First Nation in a myriad of ways, including long term evacuation. Download the resource to find out more.

The Interconnections of Water and Menstrual Justice in Canada
The Interconnections of Water and Menstrual Justice in Canada
February 6, 2025
Emma Cowman

As part of the Just Waters project, researchers, students, and co-resistors from the University of Manitoba, Douglas College, and Moon Time Connections are coming together to explore the interconnections between water and menstrual justice in Canada. Check out this primer to learn more.

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