Rematriating Water

Rooted in indigeneity, the concept of rematriation centers the restoration of sacred
relationships Indigenous peoples have to their ancestral lands, waters, and traditional
lifeways. By honoring matriarchal leadership and the historically significant roles of
Indigenous women as original stewards of land and water, this concept challenges existing
repatriation practices and patriarchal systems which lack integrity and intentional
reconciliation.

Modern-day principles, values, and extractive practices lack reciprocity with our natural
resources. Reciprocity, the practice of exchange for mutual benefit, is a core value and
practice utilized by Indigenous communities to maintain balance amongst humanity and
the natural world. The disconnected rhythm of modern life not only negatively impacts the
health and well-being of humans, but also the natural resources utilized to sustain such
disorder. Humans naturally seek land and water as a refuge from this chaotic way of life by
utilizing these resources for recreation. Land and water are seen as readily available and
accessible resources to receive peace and entertainment; something to only benefit from
and not with. If many people only seek to extract the natural beauty and benefits of land
and water, how are these resources sustained for future generations? This lack of
reciprocal relationships between residents, lands and waterways is evident and it must be
remedied by restoring balance through effective stewardship and the practice of
reciprocity. An Indigenous-centered understanding of this concept acknowledges and
honors land and water as community members, as relatives, which must be cared for and
protected.

The Rematriating Water Initiative, led by Co-founder Bianca Collins, seeks to address the
need to restore the inherent kinship between the Indigenous Peoples of Long Island and the
waters surrounding their ancestral territories. Indigenous peoples have stewarded the
lands and waters of Long Island since time immemorial and in present day their
fundamental responsibility, reverence, and interconnected kinship to these relatives is still
honored. Through this initiative, our intention is to assist the Indigenous communities of
Long Island to reconnect to their ancestral waterways, educate community stakeholders
about ancestral ecological knowledge, provide strategies for appropriate stewardship
efforts, encourage practices centered in reciprocity, and address issues regarding
accessibility to local waterways. We believe that the ability for local stakeholders to attain
this level of understanding will result in a profound understanding of the essentiality of land
and water conservation, ultimately transforming the way they interact with and care for the
environment. The health and sustainability of these finite ecological resources rely on the strengthening of Indigenous kinship, increasing environmental literacy, and creating
opportunities for active participation in their stewardship.