Why Now?

The Great Lakes ecosystem has remarkable global significance, representing 25% of the world’s surface fresh water. This glacier shaped watershed unites over 40 million people, is home to numerous Indigenous nations, holds monumental economic implications and strong regional significance.

The Great Lakes beam with life from thousands of species that roam the rich boreal forests, glide through the sparkling waters and soar through the sky above.

It’s a shared responsibility for all of us — to protect and restore this ecosystem for the next 50 years, and beyond. The future of the Great Lakes will help all life prosper collectively, learning to co-exist and build a healthy ecosystem in relationship with a strong society.

What is Biinaagami?

Biinaagami is a multi-year project to engage Canadians and Americans in stewardship of the Great Lakes and the Indigenous Peoples of the lakes.

In Anishinaabemowin, the language of the Anishinaabek Peoples, “Biinaagami” can be interpreted as “clean water.” The name was a gift to the project and speaks to “Our shared responsibility to the Great Lakes.”

Biinaagami is a powerful and change-provoking multi-year program to engage and activate national and international audiences in education, conservation, restoration, protection, and celebration of the greater Great Lakes.

Bringing together Indigenous leaders, conservationists, Canadian Geographic, and documentary film producers, Biinaagami is a program that connects people from across the Great Lakes watershed. Generously supported by RBC, Biinaagami will use immersive cutting edge storytelling and educational materials, a digital portal, community engagement, documentary films, museum exhibits and events.

Check back here for updates…

Additional project details will be announced to coincide with the 2022 Great Lakes Public Forum taking place in Niagara Falls, Ont., on September 27-29, 2022.

The Great Lakes Public Forum is convened once every three years to discuss the state of the lakes, progress made under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, and proposed priorities to guide science and actions over the next three years. The meeting also provides an opportunity for the public to provide input to the International Joint Commission, who are tasked with advising the United States and Canada with respect to the implementation of the Agreement.

Great Lakes Untamed

Coming soon - a spectacular visual exploration of the natural history of the largest freshwater ecosystem on Earth - North America's Great Lakes. Biinaagami affiliated documentary.

Executive Project Partners

The Royal Canadian Geographical Society

The Royal Canadian Geographical Society is among Canada’s largest bilingual education organizations in the not-for-profit sector. Founded in 1929, the Society’s mission is to make Canada better known to Canadians and to the world. The Society is a content creator and curator — communicating with Canadians through print, digital and social media, including its flagship magazine Canadian Geographic and its educational arm, Can Geo Education. Increasingly the Society is working in partnership with the public, private and not-for-profit sectors to fulfill its mission of generating awareness, understanding and knowledge of Canada.

Swim Drink Fish

Swim Drink Fish is a nonprofit organization that has been working to connect people with water since 2001. At the confluence of water, people, and technology, our focus is water — because all communities need swimmable, drinkable, fishable water to thrive. We empower people, because it takes a community to protect water. We create communications tools, because the web has the power to engage enough people to protect all waters. Today, Swim Drink Fish is an internationally-recognized charity that has connected 7 million people to their local waters and has activated about 2 billion dollars in restoration work since 2001. Because everyone has a right to swimmable, drinkable, fishable water.