Indigenous leaders mark Climate Week in Newark

Jacob Johns (left), Anthony Diaz (middle), and Karolina Acevedo (right) present at the Weequahic Water Ceremony in Newark, NJ on Sept 26, 2025. Photo credit: Steph Martinez.

Last Friday, Sept 26, “A Wisdom Keepers Delegation” with a coalition of global and local climate activists held an honorary indigenous water ceremony at Weequahic Park, Newark, NJ. The Weequahic Water Ceremony was one of many ceremonial and educational events run by AWKD to mark Climate Week 2025.

At this event, community members gathered to honor the land of the Lunaape people and to bless water from Weequahic Park. Through sacred, indigenous-led prayers, AWKD fostered a collective spiritual understanding of our human responsibility to safeguard Earth against the imminent threats of climate change, especially the water crisis. Each individual was encouraged to bring water that held meaning to them, from places all over the globe but also from their local homes too. 

The water blessed during this event would travel with the delegation to the Amazon River in Brazil at COP30.

A number of sponsors helped make this event possible: Newark Water Coalition, Essex County Park System, Ramapough Lenape Indian Nation, and Weequahic Park Association. 

Wynnie-Fred Victor Hinds, Executive Director of the Weequahic Park Association, commented, “The Water Ceremony was a wonderful opportunity for community activists to gather on ancestral lands and give gratitude to our waters and the heart of Weequahic Park, Weequahic Lake, while reminding ourselves of the traditions and our duty to respect and protect them. It was also a vivid reminder that water is life and a resource that connects us across generations and cultures.”

Climate Week ran from Sept 21 to 28 with a focus on advancing the ongoing fight to efficient and collaborative solutions for a sustainable future. The event brought together global leaders, environmental activists, and ordinary citizens to accelerate climate action.

Climate Week coincides with the United Nations General Assembly meetings to foster global discussions that prioritize our climate. These events are held in preparation for COP30, the annual UN climate change conference in Nov.

The United States, seen as a world leader, has made its agenda strikingly clear: to reject international climate diplomacy and ignore the very real climate crisis.

In his speech to the UN General Assembly on Tuesday Sept 23, Trump called climate change the “greatest con job ever perpetuated” and a “green scam”. Meanwhile, at the UN Global Climate Summit that following Wednesday, the US did not even attend. 

While 121 nations made pledges to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the US made the deliberate decision not to attend. The ramifications of the nation’s stance are dangerous: What does the future hold when the 2nd largest emitter won’t acknowledge their responsibility over environmentally destructive practices?

These questions flood the minds of young activists burdened with the responsibility of reversing these impacts. Chloe Lee, President of Environmental Protection Initiative at Bergen County Technical High School, states, “I wouldn’t say I have a fear, but I do worry about the future of our planet because of the current administration. We can’t keep ignoring this problem, especially coming from such a highly influential figure as President Trump.”

Even with grassroots efforts like Lee promoting awareness through her club, this problem requires collective support at every level. 

Participants of the water ceremony at Weequahic Park on Sept 26, 2025. Photo credit: Anthony Diaz.

Despite these obstacles, young people are not disillusioned. Lee affirms, “I’m scared and worried, but I have hope for future generations to change the outcome of the planet”. Another student at Bergen County Technical High School, Sarah Shin, speaks on the power of Gen Z: “We are passionate about change. Change for the better.” 

Alyssa Leuthner-Miller, a 17-year old member of the Newark Water Coalition, for instance, attended the Weequahic Water Ceremony this past Friday. 

“We are living in these problems of global warming, heatwaves, floods, air pollution, and I feel like our voices should matter. At this event, I feel like our voices were heard and mattered,” said Leuthner-Miller. 

Her involvement in the Newark Water Coalition was driven by an aspiration to make a difference in her community, especially with the understanding that water is not always accessible or clean. 

AWKD, a global delegation of Indigenous knowledge holders and Earth protectors, advocate for the harmony of mankind and Mother Earth, bringing the deep wisdom of Indigenous culture into global climate discussions. 

The impacts of climate change intensify in every passing second and will ultimately affect every being on this planet. With rising temperatures and sea levels, volatile weather, destruction of ecosystems, we are already seeing these effects on essential resources: the water we drink, the food we eat, the air we breathe, and the homes we’ve built. Now is the time to be extra vigilant about climate justice and employ our shared humanity to work towards unified solutions. In honoring Climate Week, let us continue these efforts past Sept 28th and ensure there is a future on planet Earth for the next generations.