30.01.010 Chippewa Water Knowledge

Nibi (water) is sacred and is vital to all life within the environment, including human life and especially to the lives of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians. Gichi Manitou, in our Creation Story, breathed life into Nibi, our water, and gave us the water spirits to guide our actions and to protect the water. Our traditional teachers reveal that the Chippewa women were given the responsibility for protecting the water. To honor that role, the women will lead water ceremonies and to promote tribal water standards outlined in the TMBCI Water Act. These guiding principals have led to the following declarations.