Project Ohahodǫ́gyeʔ tsęh Ohnega̱hdę́gyo
One Drop was honoured to support the second edition of the Teiethinonhwerá:ton ne Ohné:kanos festival in Six Nations of the Grand River — a celebration of water with cultural teachings, storytelling, interactive activities, kayak races, and more. Credit: One Drop Foundation
One Drop was honoured to support the second edition of the Teiethinonhwerá:ton ne Ohné:kanos festival in Six Nations of the Grand River — a celebration of water with cultural teachings, storytelling, interactive activities, kayak races, and more. Credit: One Drop Foundation
Kayak races during the Teiethinonhwerá:ton ne Ohné:kanos festival, July 3rd, 2025. Credit: One Drop Foundation.
Art booth led by One Drop in collaboration with a local artist during the Teiethinonhwerá:ton ne Ohné:kanos festival, inviting participants to paint fish cut-outs or write a message on the theme of water. Credit: One Drop Foundation
The Ohahodǫ́gyeʔ tsęh Ohnega̱hdę́gyo initiative (meaning "a pathway to where the water flows" in the Haudenosaunee languages) aims to strengthen Indigenous water governance, improve long-term water security, and empower youth in Six Nations of the Grand River (Seneca Nation, Cayuga Nation, Onondaga Nation, Oneida Nation, Mohawk Nation and Tuscarora Nation) through culturally grounded training and research that bridges Traditional Ecological Knowledge and science.
This project is community-driven, emphasizing collaboration with Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and youth.
Led by Six Nations Polytechnic (SNP), the Ohahodǫ́gyeʔ tsęh Ohnega̱hdę́gyo initiative integrates Traditional Ecological Knowledge and scientific methods into local water monitoring and management, in collaboration with McMaster University. These efforts, together with Six Nations Health Services, also strengthen community responses to water-related health challenges through assessments and public health engagement.
This initiative is part of the Indigenous Water Allyship Program, which is proudly supported by Founding Water Impact Partners: Keurig Dr Pepper Canada, Ovivo and Power Corporation of Canada.
Access to clean and safe water is both a human right and a spiritual responsibility for the Haudenosaunee people of Six Nations of the Grand River – the First Nations territory with the largest population in Canada. Despite the community’s resilience and leadership, water insecurity remains a critical challenge.
The Ohahodögye’ tsęh Ohnegāhdęgyo project responds with a systemic approach and a culturally grounded, community-led solution. Guided by the Haudenosaunee worldview – which recognizes water as a living being connected to women, ceremony, health, and the land – this initiative integrates Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), Indigenous Knowledge, and science to improve water security for future generations.
The project will strengthen local capacity through a mobile water lab, TEK-STEM training, and decision-making processes shaped by Haudenosaunee values and knowledge systems. It will actively engage youth through community events, such as the Teiethinonhwerá:ton ne Ohné:kanos festival, and will support long-term planning for sustainable water access. Infrastructure solutions, such as groundwater wells, will be explored through community consultation and participatory evaluation, ensuring that all actions reflect Indigenous leadership and relationships with water.
The project was designed with a systemic vision, adapting One Drop’s signature A·B·C for Sustainability™ model to the Haudenosaunee context.
