The Language of Water: A Multi-Modal Water Inquiry by Jared Suderman

A Multimodal Water Inquiry

This inquiry project is a cross-grade collaboration between a Grade 12 Global Issues class at J.H. Bruns Collegiate and a younger classroom from Niakwa Place School, both located in the Louis Riel School Division in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Students from diverse linguistic, cultural, and national backgrounds will come together to explore water in their immediate environment and in global contexts—from the nearby Seine River to the waters that connect them to family, memory, and place.

The project is informed by the guidance of local Indigenous knowledge keepers and water

protectors, whose lifelong advocacy and teachings offer vital insights into ways of relating to water through Indigenous knowledges and perspectives. Their contributions help frame water as a relative with spirit and story, deserving of respect and responsibility.

Learners will form cross-age partnerships and investigate issues related to water that are

meaningful and relevant to them. Their inquiries will unfold curiously through photography, writing, and other multimodal compositions including movement, sound, and oral storytelling. The project will culminate in a community showcase, where students will share their explorations with families, educators, Elders, and invited guests.

This project emphasizes reciprocity, connection, and student agency. It seeks to create lasting relationships between learners, schools, and community members, while cultivating a deeper understanding of water’s significance and the many languages it speaks.