In an exclusive for rabble.ca, Journalist Shannon Thompson spent three days in August travelling the pristine waters of the Three Rivers area of the Peel River Watershed in The Yukon, looking at what would be lost should mining development be allowed to proceed. She was a guest of the Yukon Conservation Society and several First Nations communities.

Duo Lakes, Yukon -- Na-cho Nyak Dun elder Jimmy Johnny would rather be picking blueberries and wandering off alone to scout for animals. But today he has a job to do: tell reporters and southerners like me why we should care about the fight to protect the Peel River Watershed in the northeast Yukon.

With its 900 lakes and a strong local watershed council, Bracebridge, Ont., was a great location for The Muskoka Freshwater Summit, held on June 1 and 2.

Over coffee and a muffin, I spoke with a kind-eyed, silver-haired woman, Barbara Power, a member of Grandmothers to Grandmothers. Her eyes twinkled as she told me about picketing Mike Harris and Walkerton in 2000 but her grew dark when I asked why she was at the summit. "I'm very worried about the future and concerned about what my granddaughter will inherit."