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Autumn Peltier
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| File:Autumnpeltier.jpg | |
| Born | (2004-09-27) September 27, 2004 (age 19) |
| Occupation | Environmental Activist |
| Years active | 2018–present |
| Known for | Water advocacy, environmental activism, Indigenous rights |
| Title | Chief Water Protector |
Autumn Peltier (born September 27, 2004) is an Anishinaabe Indigenous clean water advocate from the Wiikwemkoong First NationonManitoulin Island, Ontario, Canada. She is Chief Water Protector for the Aniishnabek Nation and has been called a "water warrior". In 2018, at the age of thirteen, Peltier addressed world leaders at the UN General Assembly on the issue of water protection.
Peltier lives on Lake Huron, one of the largest groups of freshwater lakes on Earth. She comes from the territory of Wikwemkoong, a First Nations reserve. Currently, she lives in Ottawa and attended St. Mother Teresa High School.[1] Peltier grew up understanding the importance of water and the need to protect it. She advocates for the universal right to clean drinking water, raising awareness towards water rights and ensuring communities have access to clean, safe and reliable drinking water. As young as the age of 8, Peltier was attending water ceremonies on First Nation reserves. At one particular ceremony in Serpent River First Nation in Ontario, she witnessed warning signs of “toxic” drinking water, caused by factors such as pipeline leaks and pollution.[1] When her mother informed her of the 20-year boil-water advisory in the community, Peltier was shocked.[2] This experience served as a catalyst for Peltier’s work as a water protector, as she soon began partaking in water ceremonies across Ontario. [3]
She continues her work for the access of clean water concerning Indigenous peoples across the world. Much of her inspiration and early knowledge comes from her great-aunt, Josephine Mandamin, a well-known activist for clean water and the previous Chief Water Protector for the Aniishnabek Nation, which Peltier took up after her demise in 2019.[4][5]
Peltier’s views on conservation justice are in line with traditional Indigenous perspectives and can be characterised as relational, which entails a kinship as well as an interdependent human relationship with nature and all its beings[6]. She says that[7]:
In my culture, my people believe that water is one of the most sacred elements. It’s something we honour. My people believe that when we’re in the womb, we live in water for nine months and our mother carries us in the water. As a fetus, we learn our first two teachings: how to love the water and how to love our mother. As women, we’re really connected to the water in a spiritual way. We believe that we’re in ceremony for nine months when we carry a baby. Another way to look at it is that water is the lifeblood of Mother Earth, and Mother Earth is female.
— Autumn Peltier
Peltier is also a strong believer in the importance of women as water advocates. She explains how the first two teachings all humans experience when in the womb are to love the water and to love one’s mother[7]. Thus, according to Peltier, women are truly connected to water in a spiritual way, as the nine months of carrying a baby is believed to be a ceremony.[7]
Peltier also believes strongly in the power of young people to create change.[7] She supports the advocacy of other youth to create collective change as those who she says will make future decisions for the country.[7] She expresses frustration at how young people must “[pay] for the mistakes that older people made”.[7] Despite this frustration, she describes feeling good about her own work and other young people stepping up to take action.[7]
One major facet of Peltier’s work is her environmental justice activism. She has discussed the challenge of environmental racism against First Nations communities in Canada in the context of water rights[8]. Peltier has argued that the demands of Indigenous peoples in Canada are consistently ignored as a virtue of their identity, as opposed to any other factors.[8] Peltier has drawn a contrast between First Nations citizens, who often face police brutality, repression, and racial injustice, and members of remote white Canadian communities, who are never denied access to water.[8]
Peltier gained national and international notice at a 2016 meeting of the Assembly of First Nations when she presented Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with a copper water pot and, although she did not have time to deliver her prepared speech, confronted Trudeau on his record on water protection and his support for pipelines.[9] She said[10]:
“I’m very unhappy with the choices you made and broken promises to my people...I don’t think he should have made that promise, because now I’m going to hold him accountable."
— Autumn Peltier, 2016
Upon reflecting on the confrontation with Prime Minister Trudeau in 2020 interview, Peltier recalled how she questioned how the public could trust Prime Minister Trudeau considering his lacklustre environmental record. In particular, Peltier explained how she aimed at highlighting the hypocrisy of Prime Minister Trudeau’s authorization of the construction of the Kinder-Morgan pipeline which was preceded by a significant oil spill in British Columbia.[11]
Her act inspired the Assembly of First Nations to create the Niabi Odacidae fund.[9] Peltier further gained attention when she spoke at The Global Landscapes Forum in New York City in September 2018, where she addressed the United Nations and important decision-makers[12]. This conference also allowed her to further spread awareness around the world for her cause and spark a change.[12] Peltier was also invited to speak at the United Nation Secretary-General's Climate Action Summit in New York, in 2018 and 2019.[13]
"We can't eat money or drink oil"
— Autumn Peltier, 2018
She uses various platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, where she has over 100 thousand followers, to spread her water advocacy[12]. Overall, she has been receiving vast amounts of support from youth, politicians, and other activists. She has contributed to bringing attention to the issues of the absence of clean drinking water in Indigenous communities.[14]
In April 2019, Peltier was named the chief water commissioner by the Anishinabek Nation.[15][16] This position was previously held by her great-aunt, Josephine Mandamin, who passed away in 2019.[12] At the time of her selection, current Anishinabek Nation Ground Council Chief Glen Hare explained how it was quite a simple decision to make: “Autumn has extensive nibi giikendaaswin (water knowledge). She has been bringing global attention to the water issues in our country for a few years now.”[10] In her role as Chief Water Commissioner, Peltier represents 39 First Nations in Ontario and is responsible for relaying community concerns to the Anishinabek Council and say in decision making as well.[17]
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Peltier spoke up about the importance of clean water access for First Nations communities, where outbreaks have been particularly severe.[18][19] Peltier believes that the response to the COVID-19 pandemic globally has paved a way for a response to the issue of the drinking water crisis for First Nations in Canada and is hopeful that change is possible.[20]
