VOLUNTEERS
The Water Festival needs Volunteers - CLICK HERE

the water festival
c/o earthwork music
315 Marion
Big Rapids, MI 49307

Superior Water Festival
April 3rd, 4th, 5th

On the campus of Northern Michigan University in Marquette, Michigan

A weekend of world-class Michigan musicians, speeches from Water workshops, art, Native American dances, children’s activities, and connections to campaigns and projects to protect our water locally and address global challenges.

Earthwork Music Collective members, Michigan/Marquette musicians and NMU students scheduled to perform throughout the weekend.

FRIDAY:
- Morning: MAPS school outreach
- Afternoon:

Guided Walk of the Yellow Dog
Leaders:
Chauncey

"Leave No Trace Ethics Workshop"
Guided tour through Tourist Park discussing the principles of LNT in relation to water.
1:30 - Meet at JXJ
2:00 - Arrive at MQT Tourist Park
>> put on by OORP

SATURDAY:
- 7:30am Set up
- 9:30am Open Doors
- 10am Opening Together with SFSL kids (JXJ 102)
- 10:45-12pm

“Native American Fishing Rights and Practices”
JXJ 101
Workshop seeking to dispel negative stereotypes regarding tribal fishing by exploring the ways in which tribal fishermen utilize sustainable practices.
Facilitator:
Ian Bonjanic (NMU Environmental Science Student)
Panelists:
Heather Naigus (Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Comission)

“The Soul of Water”
JXJ 102

Opening Song: “Water” (May Erlewine)

Panel exploring the spirituality and symbolism of water in different cultures and religions.
Facilitator: Callie Youngman (NMU Secondary History, Political Science and French Education Student)
Panelists:
Dr. Alex Carroll (NMU Sociology Professor)
Kylynn Perdue (NMU Student)
Chris Kostelansky (NMU Health Instructor, Faith in Christ Fellowship Minister)
Nancy Irish (Marquette UU Church)
Matt Fiocchi (NMU Post-Baccalaureate Education Student)
May Erlewine (Earthwork Musician)

“Old-Time Fiddle Tunes for Flatpicked Guitar”
JXJ 103
Exhibition on flatpicking guitar styles and instruction on playing fiddle tunes.
Instructor:
Bruce Ling (Hawks and Owls)
Brandon Foote
Michael Beauchamp

“Anishinaabe Trails"
JXJ 104
Student research on
Student Presenters:
Sarah Rousseau (NMU __________ Student)
Andrew Mallo (NMU _________ Student)
Carolyn Harwood (NMU _______ Student)

- 12-1:30 pm Lunch @ Den with a musical treat
- 1:30-2:15pm Returning Together with Michael Beauchamp and Brandon Foote (JXJ 102)
- 2:30-3:45pm

“Waterbusters”
JXJ 101
Film showing and discussion on a documentary chronicling the dislocation and relocation of the Mandan-Hidatsa-Arikara Nation of North Dakota due to a dam that inundated their homeland along the banks of the Missouri River.
Facilitator:
Grace Challier (NMU Native American Studies Professor)

“Food Systems and Ethics”
Opening Song: “Talking CSA Blues” (Seth Bernard)
JXJ 102
Panel exploring the ways in which current networks of production, processing and transporting food impacts our environment, water sources, health and society.
Facilitator:
Stephen DeGoosh (NMU Geography Professor)
Panelists:
Kyle Bladow (NMU English Graduate Student)
Shannon Upton (NMU Environmental Science Student)
Natasha Gill (Dancing Crane Farm)
Kelly Cantway (Marquette Food Co-op)
Closing Song: “Greens, Greens, Greens” (May Erlewine)

Musician’s Caucus
JXJ 103
“There’s a great beauty in the passing of oral tradition to others.” Open forum with discussion on how music, specifically folk and traditional music, has played a role in different social movements and cultural transitions.
Facilitators:
Frank Youngman
Brandon Foote
Michael Beauchamp
Bruce Ling

“Native American Fishing Rights and Practices II”
Academic Mall
Outdoor presentation that continues the conversation from the morning’s workshop.
Facilitator:
Ian Bojanic (NMU Environmental Science Student)
Panelists:
Heather Naigus (GLIFWC)

Kids’ Stuff
JXJ
Story-telling, face-painting, song-singing.. in preparation of the Kids’ Marshland Parade!
Facilitators/Performers:
Chris Dorman
Buddy (MTU Student)

- 4pm Marshland Parade with kids (JXJ 102)
- 5pm Tear down

SATURDAY NIGHT
Great Lakes Room of the University Center

- 6pm Setup
- 8:30pm Doors open
- 9pm Concert with Seth Bernard, Daisy May, Susan Fawcett, Frank Youngman, Michael Beauchamp, Hawks & Owls, Brandon Foote
- 11pm Grassmonkey to close

SUNDAY:
- 7:30am Set up
- 9:30am Open doors
- 10am Opening together: Native American dance (JXJ 102)
- 10:30-12pm

Student Caucus: Bringin’ it all Together
JXJ 101
Opening Song : “Collage” (Performed by Seth Bernard)
Open forum discussion on ways in which students can transcend traditional structures of student organizing and on-/off-campus activism to create a comprehensive coalition.
Facilitators :
Alissa Russo (NMU Outdoor Recreation Student)
Jason Morgan (NMU Political Science Student)
Callie Youngman (NMU History, Political Science & French Education Student)

“NMU Student Collage Concert”
JXJ 102
NMU student showcase of noisy artistic expression.
Facilitator:
Scott Dorsch (NMU Secondary English Education Student)
Performers:
Leah Anton (NMU Criminal Justice & Sociology Student)
John Berry (NMU Photography Student)
Scott Dorsch
R.J. Little (NMU Student)
Preston Mull (NMU Earth Science Student)
Curtiss O’Roroke Stedman (NMU English & Geography Education Student)
Joel Parkilla (NMU Student)

CHURCH
JXJ 103

“Case Studies on the Past, Present and Future of Dams”
JXJ 104
Student research on the Silver Lake Dam, Hetch Hetchy Reservoir and O'Shaughnessy Dam and the Three Gorges Dam.
Student Presentor:
Jen VanDragt (NMU Environmental Science Student)

- 12-1:30pm Lunch @ Den with a musical treat
- 1:30-2:15pm Returning Together with Jeff Gibbs’ U.P. Documentary (JXJ 102)
- 2:30-3:45pm

“Rain Gardens”
JXJ 101
Workshop
Facilitator:
Becca Ling (West Michigan Environmental Action Council)

“A Legacy of Mining in the U.P.”
JXJ 102
Opening Song: “Letters From Downstream” (Performed by May Erlewine)
Panel exlporing the past, present and future of mining in the U.P. and the different environmental, economic and social implications of the practice; including (but not limited to) current controversy surrounding the proposed sulfide mines in the area.
Facilitator:
Bethany Lyon (NMU Elementary Science Education Student)
Panelists:
Cynthia Prior (Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve)
Stan Vitton (MTU Civil and Environmental Engineering Professor)
Jen VanDragt (NMU Environmental Science Student)
Teresa Bertossi (Save the Wild U.P.)

“Health and Water”
JXJ 103
Panel exploring the direct relationship between our health and water with ties to social justice issues and movements.
Facilitator:
Andrea Denham (NMU Outdoor Recretaion Student)
Panelists:
Patience McCarthy (NMU Nursing Student)
Frank Dickenson (Red Lake Band of Ojibwe)
Gail Griffith (Former NMU Chemistry Professor)
Jamie Murray (NMU Community Health Education Student)

Kid’s Stuff
JXJ
Performers:
Chris Dorman

- 4pm Community Sing (JXJ 102)
- 5pm Tear down