The Great Lakes are the largest group of lakes, by surface area on our planet Earth. They contain 21% of Earth’s surface freshwater, by volume. Lake Superior is the largest lake in the world by surface area, and contains 10% of the world’s surface freshwater. Long considered by the indigenous peoples who live along their vast coastlines to be sweet water seas, these lakes are precious and vital to our world. Citizens of two countries, one province, and eight states currently live on these great shores. In Canada, we recognize that these are Robinson Superior Treaty, Robinson Huron Treaty, Williams Treaties, Upper Canada Treaties, and Manitoulin Island Treaty lands. In the United States, we recognize that these lands were the lands of many indigenous peoples, particularly the Santee Dakota, Menominee, Ioway, Ho-chunk, Illinois, Potawatomi, Sauk, Mascouten, Fox, Miami, Kickapoo, Shawnee, Ojibwe, Ottowa, Petun, Nipissing, Algonkin, Wandotte, and Iroquois. In addition, many indigenous peoples now in the American Great Plains once lived in the great lakes region. The lakes have long served as a gateway to the interior of North America, with waterways connecting them from the Atlantic Ocean through all of the lakes, and by canal, to the Mississippi River. From the earliest times, people have used the lakes for shipping, transportation, and fishing. Their grand coastlines serve as places of recreation with miles of beaches and dunes. Their climate allows for the growing of fruit, especially grapes and cherries. They are so large that they create their own weather. Just think about lake effect snow!
In Mers d’eau douce, the lakes are presented in order from smallest to largest. Each movement, while separate, connects to the others, as the lakes connect to each other. Each movement’s title gives the current name of the lake, an indigenous name of the lake, and the translation or meaning of the indigenous name. In each movement, I try to musically capture the character of the lake described by the name given to it by the various indigenous people who inhabited its coastlines. Erie, as named by the Iroquois people is called Long Tail, Ontario, Lake of Shining Water as named by the Wyandotte nation, as is Huron (A European name for the Wyandotte people), appropriately called Sweetwater Sea. The Ojibwe people call Lake Michigan the Grand Sea, and Superior the Great Sea. When I created this music, I kept in mind my vision of these lakes as well. I grew up on the shores of Lake Superior, and lived near Michigan, Huron, and Erie for a good part of my adult life. I have traveled to Lake Ontario and spent time there as well. These lakes were a formative part of my life, as they are for all who are fortunate enough to call their shores home. Les Grands Lacs constituent le plus grand groupe de lacs, par superficie, sur notre planète Terre. Ils contiennent 21% de l’eau douce de surface de la Terre, en volume. Le lac Supérieur est le plus grand lac du monde en superficie et contient 10% de l’eau douce de surface du monde. Longtemps considérés par les peuples autochtones qui vivent le long de leurs vastes côtes comme des mers d’eau douce, ces lacs sont précieux et vitaux pour notre monde.
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Les citoyens de deux pays, d’une province et de huit États vivent actuellement sur ces grandes côtes. Au Canada, nous reconnaissons qu’il s’agit du Traité Robinson Supérieur, du Traité Robinson Huron, des Traités Williams, des Traités du Haut-Canada et des terres du Traité de l’île Manitoulin. Aux États-Unis, nous reconnaissons que ces terres étaient les terres de nombreux peuples autochtones, en particulier les Santee Dakota, Menominee, Ioway, Ho-chunk, Illinois, Potawatomi, Sauk, Mascouten, Fox, Miami, Kickapoo, Shawnee, Ojibwe, Ottowa , Pétun, Nipissing, Algonkin, Wandotte et Iroquois. De plus, de nombreux peuples autochtones vivant actuellement dans les grandes plaines américaines vivaient autrefois dans la région des grands lacs.
Les lacs ont longtemps servi de porte d’entrée vers l’intérieur de l’Amérique du Nord, avec des voies navigables les reliant de l’océan Atlantique à tous les lacs, et par canal, au fleuve Mississippi. Depuis les temps les plus reculés, les gens ont utilisé les lacs pour la navigation, le transport et la pêche. Leurs grandes côtes servent de lieux de loisirs avec des kilomètres de plages et de dunes. Leur climat permet la culture de fruits, en particulier de raisins et de cerises. Ils sont si grands qu’ils créent leur propre temps. Pensez à la neige effet lac!
