To Be A Water Protector: The Rise of the Wiindigoo Slayers

by Winona LaDuke

Winona LaDuke is a leader in cultural-based sustainable development strategies, renewable energy, sustainable food systems and Indigenous rights. Her new book, To Be a Water Rise of the Wiindigoo Slayers, is an expansive, provocative engagement with issues that have been central to her many years of activism. LaDuke honours Mother Earth and her teachings while detailing global, Indigenous-led opposition to the enslavement and exploitation of the land and water. She discusses several elements of a New Green Economy and outlines the lessons we can take from activists outside the US and Canada. In her unique way of storytelling, Winona LaDuke is inspiring, always a teacher and an utterly fearless activist, writer and speaker.

Winona LaDuke is an Anishinaabekwe (Ojibwe) enrolled member of the Mississippi Band Anishinaabeg who lives and works on the White Earth Reservation in Northern Minnesota. She is executive director of Honor the Earth, a national Native advocacy and environmental organization. Her work at the White Earth Land Recovery Project spans thirty years of legal, policy and community development work, including the creation of one of the first tribal land trusts in the country. LaDuke has testified at the United Nations, US Congress and state hearings and is an expert witness on economics and the environment. She is the author of numerous acclaimed articles and books.

Genres: Indigenous, Nonfiction, Environment, Nature, Native American, Book Club, Politics

314 pages, Paperback

Published December 1, 2020

About the author

Writing, farming, and working in her community for more than 40 years, Winona LaDuke is one of the world’s most tireless and charismatic leaders on issues related to climate change, Indigenous and human rights, green economies, grassroots organizing, and the restoration of local food systems. A two-time Green Party vice-presidential candidate, Winona has received numerous awards and accolades, including recognition on the Forbes' first “50 Over 50—Women of Impact” list in 2021.

Winona is the author of many acclaimed articles and books, including "Recovering the Sacred: The Power of Naming and Claiming" and "To Be a Water Protector: Rise of the Wiindigoo Slayers." A Harvard-educated economist, hemp farmer, grandmother, and member of the Mississippi Band Anishinaabeg, she lives and works on the White Earth Reservation in northern Minnesota.

Reviews

[Jennifer Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone who cares about the environment and desires to understand the rise of the Water Protector (NODAPL) movement should read this book. In addition to the book, I highly recommend watching the documentary
LN3 FILM: SEVEN TEACHINGS OF THE ANISHINAABE IN RESISTANCE.
https://vimeo.com/538751145

Website:https://www.honorearth.org/
Documentary: LN3 FILM: SEVEN TEACHINGS OF THE ANISHINAABE IN RESISTANCE
https://vimeo.com/538751145

[Hopie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great range of reporting, archival work, testimony from activists; only repetitive in the details when reading them back to back; essential reading to learn about Indigenous positionalities against destruction of their land

[Kai · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book is a collection of over forty essays--some of which are only 2-3 pages long--concerning a wide range of Indigenous movements across North America in the last 5-10 years, with a loose focus on pipelines. The book structure makes reading it front-to-back a little bit repetitive at times, and though a "previously published" page isn't included, a lot of these i think were op-eds for various newspapers. i think that's a crucial site for LaDuke, but where her writing and analysis really shines in this volume is in a few longer chapters on the DAPL, Sandpiper, and Line 3 struggles that as far as I know have not been published elsewhere. LaDuke is both a witty and passionate writer, and in surveying these pipeline opposition struggles, she captures an almost unrepresentable aspect of their fullness and eventfulness--a "mysterious spark" (95) that eludes analysis. that really hit me, and made those chapters on the blockade feel more real than any others i've read.

[Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

In To Be a Water Protector: The Rise of the Wiindigoo Slayers, Minnesota Anishibnabe economist and activist Winona LaDuke’s collection of engaging editorials, she evokes the folklore of the windigo to describe the capitalist interests which continue to threaten indigenous lands and environmental rights, making for a very effective environmental discussion. I remembered her most as the vice presidential candidate for the Green Party back in 2000, but her work was surprisingly contemporary here, analyzing a variety of topics related to the indigenous-led opposition to the continued environmental onslaught on indigenous land from the “extreme extraction” deemed necessary to keep profit rising.

Among the numerous essays included, written in a casual and accessible tone, LaDuke has a lot of interesting things to say, though the nature of the book makes it on occasion a little repetitive as she returns to various topics. Her continued use of the windigo story, though, was a compelling lens to couch her reporting on the fights against the Canadian corporations collaborating with US states in pushing through pipelines like Standing Rock in North Dakota and Enbridge Line 3 in Minnesota. Evoking the cultural conception of the “giant murderous monster that used to rampage through the north woods, fueled by an insatiable greed and a relentless desire for human flesh” to, and using the term “Winidiigoo Economics,” that “fossil fuel era capitalism is like the Wiindigoo: a predator economics, the economics of a cannibal.”

LaDuke makes clear the rapacious nature of these entities as they violate indigenous lands once again in the name of profit, making sure that Alberta tar sands crude keeps flowing, regardless of its environmental effects, putting the well-being of the many at risk for the enrichment of the few. In the end, her discussion of divesting from fossil fuel finance and infrastructure was one of the most interesting points in To Be a Water Protector.

[Angie Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bought this book at Birchbark Books. A series of essays on protecting our planet. Climate change is an extraordinary time; destruction of billions of animals, life itself, by fossil fuel interests is an extraordinary crime. Species are going extinct, people are without water, and corporations believe they have the right to make more money. That’s when people face down governments for the rest of the planet. This system is not working and protestors are being arrested. Ralph Nader says if people truly have power there is no need for civil disobedience. Why is it if people want clean drinking water then they are called an activist but if a corporation containmenates the water and is not called a terrorist. The book also references the mass killing of the Dakota 38 in Mankato. It’s not too late to change course. The next economy is about survival, not conquest. It’s about cooperation not competition. It’s about restoring balance and relationships.

[Karen Kohoutek · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good book, which wasn't quite what I expected. I thought it was going to be more editorial, and while there's some of that, I would call this more a collection of reportage (and very solid work!) on the pipeline struggles in Minnesota and North Dakota, and their connection to larger environmental justice issues and other concerns facing Indigenous communities. As essays, there's a little repetition of some facts and ideas, which is understandable, so don't get annoyed by that. The calm laying out of facts against Enbridge and its ilk are very damning, especially the details about how corporate interests have subverted the law and the democratic process. Throughout, LaDuke's tone remains hopeful, inspiring one to keep putting one foot in front of the other and carry on with what needs to be done.

[Abby Rosenbaum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Late stage Wiindigoo capitalism is finishing this the same day COP28 started….ooooooooooof

Some repetition throughout the book (as there always is with essay collections), but I really love Winona LaDuke’s writing style & am excited to read more. The longer essays, specifically about Line 3 & Standing Rock/DAPL, were incredible and so deeply informative. I have done a lot of prior learning/research about them/Indigenous resistance to them, but learned SO so much more from this book — she really dug deep into the political/social/economic landscapes & Indigenous relationships in Minnesota & North Dakota, and how truly sinister Enbridge/Justin Trudeau/other fossil fuel bootlickers are.

[Annika Christensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Winona LaDuke is a excellent environmental advocate for indigenous communities. As a economist she provides insight for what larger and smaller level action is needed to protect Turtle Island. This book is a collection of essays so I would recommend breaking it up in your day to day so it does not become monotonous. If you plan on reading this book and your not from Minnesota, North Dakota, or South Dakota: I recommend reading some of these states' tribal history to get the full grasp of the areas, traditions, and peoples veiw before you read this book.

[Maxine Bruel · Rating 1 out of 5]

I feel as if my original review had me come off as just an overreacting negative person so I thought I would go into more depth with my problems in the book. While Water Protector is not an academic book, it should at least be held to the standards of a high school student. After all, the book is informing the public, and people should have some monocle of trust that the author is providing accurate information. And yet Water Protector uses Wikipedia as a source 19 times. If I were to quote even once from Wikipedia in middle school, I would have failed the assignment. There should be no excuse for citing from Wikipedia. Worse still, Water Protector does not even have the courtesy to provide when the information from Wikipedia was collected, making it nearly impossible to track down where the information from Wikipedia came from. Also, a minor nitpick before the real problems unveil themselves. There are numerous spelling mistakes, which results in the book feeling very unprofessional.
The organization of the book is horrendous. I had completely forgotten what happened at Standing Rock, but Water Protector did not feel the need to explain what happened until 90 pages in. There are many other instances of not defining terms until it's too late. I have always been taught that it is the author's job to explain terms and arguments properly. Furthermore, if the reader was supposed to know already what happened at Standing Rock coming into the book, why does the book feel to explain it anyway?
The arguments are also not well done. There are so many jokes that do not land. While humor is very subjective, and if the book makes you laugh, please do not let me take that away. But the jokes are distracting and diminish the point. Having wisecracks thrown into while talking about ecological destruction removes the reader from the argument. The jokes defang the argument. In addition, the arguments are not well done. Because of the poor organization of the book there does not feel like one overarching idea besides Wiindigo Capitalism. But even Wiindigo Capitalism is poorly defined, creating a strange disconnect between the titular subtitle of the book and its contents. After reading, I am left with a sense of dread that nothing was accomplished by reading the book because the book does not have focus. It jumps around from place to place, never clearly stating why, further weakening the argument. Lastly, the conclusion fails to wrap any of the ideas up, creating a lost opportunity.
To conclude, the arguments, sourcing, format, grammar, syntax, and organization were dreadful, with the only redeeming quality in my eyes being the cover art.

[Bruce Russell-Jayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Indigenous Peoples Lead Efforts to Slow Climate Change

Winona LaDuke’s compelling arguments inspire me to act in support of Water Protectors to #StopLine3 going thru Minnesota and all dirty Tar Sands Oil pipelines in the US and Canada. Using Treaty Rights and tenacity, native peoples are leading us and teaching us all how to stand up to fossil fuel corporations and the governments they buy.

[Chidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Winona LaDuke has such a way with words speaking in person and in her writing. I recommend this book to anyone interested in Indigenous resistance movements and want to learn more about ongoing exploitations of the land and waters. The style of this book is like a long conversation with LaDuke where a bunch of different topics come up. This essay collection doesn’t tie together in a way a lot of books do but I think that just makes this book even cooler.

[Charlotte Piwowar · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book definitely has a lot of really important information and some great gems of wisdom: “How do I account for my behaviors and decisions to my ancestors and to my descendants?” and “…if you're working on something that you plan on finishing in your lifetime, you are not thinking big enough” were a couple of my favorite lines. However, I found the writing otherwise a bit dense at times.

[Zoë Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

really enjoyed most of the book and then went to google the author and found out she ignored sexual harassment in her organization and let it happen,,, gotta take off a star for that but its really informative. i think the ideas could have been organized a LOT better but when this book was good it was GOOD

[Mary · Rating 1 out of 5]

Don’t bother with this. There are so many better books to read on the preservation of the environment. Sarcasm, outrage, & disgust are not good tools for persuasion. Above all, get your facts straight before you go to print.

[Naomi]

Quite a good history of the struggles of indigenous peoples with the fossil few industry, especially the Anishinaabeg of Minnesota and Canada.

[Clivemichael · Rating 5 out of 5]

An inspiring dedicated commitment to healing, well articulated and described.

[Zack Semones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super interesting and educational! Very well researched and presented clearly.

[Magdalene · Rating 5 out of 5]

the most well researched book i’ve ever read. everyone should read this book and tell others to read it. this should be a mandatory history book for everyone.

[Nancy]

This was a great read for a book discussion I was in.

[Ella Majeski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for a class. Such a jarring book about climate, capitalism, and the continuous struggle of indigenous people because of these two topics. Beautifully written, and unexpected

[Caroline · Rating 2 out of 5]

The information in this book is heavy and the writing style is dry, but it is IMMENSELY important information. Moving from reliance on fossil fuels to a future in renewables will directly affect indigenous communities, whose land pipelines are currently being constructed on.

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will read anything Winona LaDuke writes.