Te Araroa's Clean Water Silent Walk
Donation protected
Hello, my name is Bonnie Toye, an American environmental activist who is walking the whole country of New Zealand, the Te Araroa trail, for six months in silence. It is my intention to put focus on the necessity of clean water and give a "voice" for those that can't be heard.. animals, plants and people alike who are in need of it, as we all are.
I am new to NZ and wanted my introduction to the land to be meaningful where I could do something positive with my traveling privileges.
I was introduced to some people building water wells in Uganda and Kenya earlier this year, where I learned it only cost up to $10,000 to build a water well (depending on where) that would give clean water to an entire community. So many voices we cannot hear are in need of this. I would like to collect donations to build a water well, (borehole,) with a written thanks to New Zealand "Aotearoa" on the well and also in memory of a friend who lost his life the day before I left for the walk, Luke Benjamin Porter.
In places like Africa, there is lots of clean yet inaccessible water underneath the ground, that can only be accessed by building a water well. Because the people of these communities don’t have the funds to build one, they end up settling for diseased water or walking literally all day collecting it from far off sources, and missing out on proper education.
As a water protector, and indigenous rights supporter, I so wanted this walk to be led by the first people's of NZ, the Maori, to acknowledge their connection to the land and protection of our brothers and sisters overseas. However, with such a short time to plan, I was not able to find people to lead me through their territory's. I did however receive the acknowledgement from a well known maori human rights and enviornmental activist, whose support was never far out of reach.
Every little bit helps, so contributing $5, $10 or more is so appreciated. The funds donated to this walk, will go to building a water well in Uganda, thanks to the organization, Global H2O.
About me:
It began when I had originally taken a personal month long vow of silence which ended on thanksgiving at the standing rock protest against the Dakota access pipeline in America. Later that year I attended a four day indigenous led walk from Victoria to the gates of Kinder Morgan in Vancouver Canada. I walked in silence to show my respect and was gifted an orca fin sign that said, “A voice for the Orcas.”
Months after that, I helped organize a three day indigenous led walk from Seattle WA to Tacoma WA, and silently walked with that same sign, all of which was done in the name of clean water.
The Te Araroa silent walk is the largest walk I have ever done. It is for anyone that values the fundamentals of life. You are welcome to join for any part of this experience and have your voice “heard” through this action. It is not necessary for you to be in silence when we are not walking, although it is very welcomed. There is no minimum or maximum limit in joining. We will be camping along the way.
This is the website about the trail in case you have more questions about it.
https://www.teararoa.org.nz/faq/
Thank you for supporting clean water.
Mni Wiconi
-B
I am new to NZ and wanted my introduction to the land to be meaningful where I could do something positive with my traveling privileges.
I was introduced to some people building water wells in Uganda and Kenya earlier this year, where I learned it only cost up to $10,000 to build a water well (depending on where) that would give clean water to an entire community. So many voices we cannot hear are in need of this. I would like to collect donations to build a water well, (borehole,) with a written thanks to New Zealand "Aotearoa" on the well and also in memory of a friend who lost his life the day before I left for the walk, Luke Benjamin Porter.
In places like Africa, there is lots of clean yet inaccessible water underneath the ground, that can only be accessed by building a water well. Because the people of these communities don’t have the funds to build one, they end up settling for diseased water or walking literally all day collecting it from far off sources, and missing out on proper education.
As a water protector, and indigenous rights supporter, I so wanted this walk to be led by the first people's of NZ, the Maori, to acknowledge their connection to the land and protection of our brothers and sisters overseas. However, with such a short time to plan, I was not able to find people to lead me through their territory's. I did however receive the acknowledgement from a well known maori human rights and enviornmental activist, whose support was never far out of reach.
Every little bit helps, so contributing $5, $10 or more is so appreciated. The funds donated to this walk, will go to building a water well in Uganda, thanks to the organization, Global H2O.
About me:
It began when I had originally taken a personal month long vow of silence which ended on thanksgiving at the standing rock protest against the Dakota access pipeline in America. Later that year I attended a four day indigenous led walk from Victoria to the gates of Kinder Morgan in Vancouver Canada. I walked in silence to show my respect and was gifted an orca fin sign that said, “A voice for the Orcas.”
Months after that, I helped organize a three day indigenous led walk from Seattle WA to Tacoma WA, and silently walked with that same sign, all of which was done in the name of clean water.
The Te Araroa silent walk is the largest walk I have ever done. It is for anyone that values the fundamentals of life. You are welcome to join for any part of this experience and have your voice “heard” through this action. It is not necessary for you to be in silence when we are not walking, although it is very welcomed. There is no minimum or maximum limit in joining. We will be camping along the way.
This is the website about the trail in case you have more questions about it.
https://www.teararoa.org.nz/faq/
Thank you for supporting clean water.
Mni Wiconi
-B
Organizer
Bonnie Toye
Organizer
Seattle, WA