we are water protectors
Aboriginal Outfitters' Water Protector program was created to begin elevating the voices in our community who wish to share the cultural significance of protecting our water sources.
We hope to inspire youth to participate in actively caring for, cleaning up, and respecting all bodies of water and its spirit.
"For this land is sacred to us. This shining water that moves in the streams and rivers is not just water but the blood of our ancestors. If we sell you land, you must remember that it is sacred, and you must teach your children that it is sacred and that each ghostly reflection in the clear water of the lakes tells of events and memories in the life of my people. The water’s murmur is the voice of my father’s father. The rivers are our brothers, they quench our thirst.
The river carries our canoes, and feed our children. If we sell you our land, you must remember, and teach your children, that the rivers are our brothers, and yours, and you must henceforth give the rivers the kindness you would give any brother."
- Chief Si'ahl / Seattle, Chief of the Duwamish, Suquamish and allied Indian tribes to Franklin Pierce
we are actively trying to protect the upper columbia river system and all of its tributaries.
We've started small with our focus on the Similkameen River and the removal of the Enloe Dam. The Similkameen River provides 70% of the flow to the Okanogan River and it should be a priority of our community to see it restored to its natural state.