Sunrise ceremony and water walk honor Anishinaabe traditions ahead of Hodag Heritage Fest

While the Rhinelander Chamber of Commerce-sponsored Hodag Heritage Festival events kick off later in the morning, an early opportunity for reflection and environmental stewardship will take place beforehand. The Hodag Water Walk, beginning with a sunrise ceremony at 6 a.m. at Pelican Rapids Boat Launch, offers a meaningful way to start the day. The launch is located next to Friendly Village Nursing Home at 900 Boyce Drive, where the Wisconsin and Pelican rivers meet.

Following the sunrise ceremony, participants will walk 2.4 miles through Rhinelander along the Wisconsin River. The event is led by Cheryl Boyd, director of Eagle Heart Healing, who highlights the cultural significance of the Hodag as a water spirit, known as Mishi Bizheau Kwe to the Anishinaabe people.

Boyd invites attendees to pray for the water, sing for the water, and walk for the water, drawing inspiration from the teachings of Grandmother Josephine Mandamin, a revered Anishinaabe environmental activist known as “The Grandmother Water Walker.”

For more information or to register for the ceremony, contact Cheryl Boyd by phone or text at 715-367-3736 or via email at [email protected].