6:30 PM l Business Meeting

7 PM - 8 PM | Water Teachings, Our Impact, & Welling Up for Water Justice!

Welling up is what happens when something can no longer be held back. As pressures on our freshwater and the communities that depend on it continue to grow, so too must our collective response. This November 18th, join us online to reflect on Water Watchers' impact over the past year, hear from our keynote speaker, and explore what it means to meet this moment through collective action, community power, and a groundswell of local water protection.

Featuring Keynote speaker – Isaac Murdoch (Bomgiizhik)

Isaac Murdoch, whose Ojibway name is Bomgiizhik, is an Indigenous artist, storyteller, activist and traditional knowledge holder from the Fish Clan of Serpent River First Nation. Through powerful storytelling, he shares Indigenous cultural knowledge, history and perspectives, drawing on his experiences and knowledge of traditional practices.

His artistic work incorporates traditional Ojibway imagery and symbolism and is informed by his knowledge of harvesting, medicine walks, cultural camps, oral history, birch bark canoe making and birch bark scrolls. His work reflects a deep commitment to social justice, environmental conservation and the preservation and revitalization of First Nations culture and knowledge.

In addition to his work as a storyteller and artist, Isaac is a singer, songwriter, educator and consultant. Through his storytelling, art and teachings, he shares cultural knowledge and invites audiences to deepen their understanding of Indigenous perspectives and relationships with the natural world.

with music shared by Layla Staats

Layla Staats is a Mohawk woman, multidisciplinary artist, musician, filmmaker and activist from Six Nations of the Grand River. Her creative work is rooted in her journey of reclaiming her Indigenous identity, cultural strength and connection to the land and water as a generational survivor of residential schools.

Through music, film and storytelling, Layla shares Indigenous stories and perspectives while advocating for Indigenous rights, land reclamation and water protection. Her music draws on the oral storytelling traditions of Mohawk culture, creating space to share stories and connect through shared experiences.

As a filmmaker, Layla directed and produced Blood and Water: A Reclamation Story, a short film exploring her family's journey of cultural reclamation through their enduring connection to water and traditional teachings. She is also the central subject of Boil Alert, a documentary following her journey through First Nations communities to raise awareness about the ongoing water crisis and the fundamental right to safe drinking water.