HOMES — or Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie and Superior, the group of five freshwater lakes in central North America — create a natural border between the United States and Canada and form the largest body of unfrozen freshwater in the world. Many who have come to our shores referred to these huge bodies of freshwater to as the “Third Coast.”

My Chinese friends standing on the beaches of the Great Lakes regard these bodies of water as inland seas or as one giant freshwater ocean. They are amazed by their size and awed by their power and how clean and well maintained they appear.

The Great Lakes region contains not only the five main lakes themselves, but also numerous minor lakes and rivers in multiple states and Canadian Provinces, all feeding a fragile ecosystem and creating life for millions.

Michigan and other states in the Great Lakes Basin are all wet. This is a good thing — as the 21st century evolves, water will become the most valued natural asset.

Mr. Ettawageshik teaches us a valuable lessons about the importance of acting today –but remembering that we must take a long view of protecting the Great Lakes.

Over the years, in my role as state superintendent of schools, director of the department of mental health and my time in Jim Blanchard’s Governors office, I have learned much from Michigan tribal leaders.

We need to value and protect the Great Lakes as though our very lives and livelihoods and our childrens childrens children depend on them — because they do.

Thank you for a thoughtful and spiritual commentary.