This river is born in the mountains ~

it flows to where I am now ~

the rain, the wind and the water ~

dances around my feet ~

Annemarie Cilon

Ko te wai te ora ngā mea katoa - Water is the life giver of all things.

"Why Worry When The River is so Close' is a Long-Term project of Annemarie Cilon.

It is a personal journey to connect with the river The IJssel and her direct surroundings close to my home-place. With this project I also want to explore the values of Rivers in general. 

"Why Worry When the River is so close" is a translated expression from the traditional Yugambeh/Ugarapul language (Australia). In the traditional language the phrase is: "Minyahgu buyma balun bundagahl". This expression means:"The Rivers are all we need" or "Better than no water'. (Information from member of the Yugambeh Museum Australia). In the mixed language Pidgin (English/Yugambeh) is the phrase: "Why Buyma when Balun close"."

"Indigenous people understand water to be the sacred essence of life. All bodies of water are interconnected - rivers are the veins of the planet, drawing together different communities and ecosystems. Rivers, like all bodies of water, are living entities, and as such, are subjects rather than objects". *33 

Māori recognise many different types of water/momowai and each has different values and uses. Each body of water also has a life force/mauri and should not be mixed with water from another source. For Māori, water is the essence of all life, like the blood of Papatūānuku (Earth mother) who supports all people, plants and wildlife. 

The River "De IJssel" is a sidearm of the river " De Rijn". The Romans knew the river as Isala. In Low Saxon language (Nedersaskische taal) the river is called: "Iessel". The IJssel flows from Westervoort near Arnhem (Gelderland) to the IJsseldelta / Ketelmeer (Overijssel).

"De Rijn" is the longest river in Europe (1230 km). The source is in Switzerland in the Tomasee near the Oberalp pass. "De Rijn" flows through Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, France to the North Sea in the Netherlands. 

Sound of the streaming water of the Wetering into the IJssel. September 2020