First Nation Traditional DressThe bank of a stream or river, the shores of a lake – touch a chord deep within us all. People have always preferred to live where water and land meet. There are practical explanations for our attraction to the water's edge. It provides:

• access to water for daily needs
• proximity to convenient transportation.
• a source of food

The boundary between land and water is one of the richest, most productive zones on earth. Fish and other forms of marine life are born, grow, and live there. There is lots of food for land animals and birds as well. Until recently in human history, most people hunted and gathered their own food, and so they too were drawn to the water's edge by the nourishment available there.

Canadians as a nation are particularly connected to water. With an abundance of visible freshwater bodies: lakes, rivers, streams, ponds and wetlands, Canadians are never very far away from water. Many Canadians spend their leisure time on or by water and have a long-standing love affair with the canoe and the kayak. Canada, with its lakes and rivers, spawns a culture particularly rich in water imagery. It is part of our identity.

Water CultureFor Aboriginal peoples water is the basis of all life. At the beginning of time, the Creator gave instructions to Aboriginal peoples to respect water, air, and the earth by keeping it pure. These original instructions are reflected in Aboriginal culture, beliefs and values. Canada's native populations are profoundly linked to water and waterways for both physical and spiritual health. Today the quality of many water systems is degraded by the pressures of human development. To many Aboriginal people, this degradation of the land results in the deterioration of their health and way of life, while providing them with few benefits.

Our water systems are an extremely valuable resource, sustaining our industry, vegetation, and health. However, water also sustains our Canadian spirit and identity. It forms a link between citizens from every region across the land. It is important to remember that people from every area of Canada are sustained in body and spirit by the same water that sustains us.

Next: Economic Value of Water

Adapted from Environment Canada's Freshwater Website