Autumn Peltier

The PPC is proud to co-sponsor this Earth Day event.

Autumn Peltier, an internationally recognized teen spokesperson for clean water, will speak at this Earth Day event.

Autumn Peltier (born September 27, 2004) is Anishinaabe-kwe and a member of the Wikwemikong First Nation and an internationally recognized advocate for clean water. She is a water protector and has been called a "water warrior".[1][2] Peltier addressed world leaders at the UN General Assembly on the issue of water protection at the age of thirteen in 2018.

Peltier lives on the Unceded Anishinaabe Territory on Manitoulin Island in northern Ontario. She began her advocacy on behalf of water at the age of eight and was inspired by her great aunt, Josephine Mandamin. The turning point for her advocacy was attending a ceremony at the Serpent River Reservation and saw a warning sign against drinking the water, and learned that not all people in Canada have access to clean drinking water.

Peltier soon became in-demand as a speaker. She gained national and international notice when at a meeting of the Assembly of First Nations she presented Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with a copper water pot and although she did not have time to deliver her prepared speech she confronted Trudeau on his record on water protection and his support for pipelines. Her act inspired the Assembly of First Nations to create the Niabi Odacidae fund.  She has attended international events such as the Children's Climate Conference in Sweden.

In April, 2019 Peltier was named the chief water commissioner by the Anishinabek Nation. This position was previously held by her great-aunt Josephine Mandamin.

In September 2019, Peltier was nominated for an International Children's Peace Prize and named as one of the United States Union of Concerned Scientistslist of 2019 Science Defenders. She was also invited to speak at the United Nation Secretary-General's Climate Action Summit in New York, in 2019 and 2018.