The Haw River Water Walk is an Indigenous-led, 300-mile ceremonial walk from the headwaters of the Haw River, along the Cape Fear and down to the Atlantic Ocean. Occaneechi Saponi water protector Crystal Cavalier-Keck visioned the walk after her experience walking with Ojibwe elder Sharon Day, who holds the tradition of Nibi (Water) Walks.

The Nibi Walks site describes what they do as:

“Indigenous-led, extended ceremonies to pray for the water. Every step is taken in prayer and gratitude for water, our life giving force.

We walk for the water, and as we heal the water we heal all of life. We are not a protest. We are a prayer for the water.”

Starting October 24th, hosted by Crystal Cavalier-Keck, the honorable Sharon Day and Great Grandmother Mary Lyons will guide small teams of walkers in the tradition of the Nibi Walks. We will walk from the Haw’s headwaters to where the river empties into the Atlantic Ocean - with an embodied prayer for the river’s renewed health.

Awareness and engagement generated through The Haw River Water Walk has the potential to create deeper connection, understanding, and commitment to protecting this precious and threatened waterbody.

There are many ways to get involved:

Sign up to walk

Donate

Become a sponsor