The Water Guardians: An Ode to Penobscot River & Bay, and The Wabanaki Grandmother Water Proters.

The Water Guardians began by collecting driftwood and shells along the shore, turning them into art that soon carried a more profound message. Creating these pieces, I felt guided by stories of grandmothers praying for protection against the river’s contamination—stories that resonated with water protectors at places like the Dakota Access Pipeline.

I also recalled meeting the crew of Pajaro Hi—a wooden ketch built through collaboration with indigenous and sponsor communities that sailed from the Amazon to connect with other indigenous communities. This was during an interview with Penobscot elder Donna Loring for WMPG Community Radio, where I worked as ALANA Center coordinator.

The Water Guardian is a memoir that honors water protectors—especially grandmothers—and serves as a call for collective responsibility, reminding us of our interconnectedness and the need to be good ancestors.