Honour the Indigenous Stewardship of the Chaudière Falls and the sacred Victoria Island.
Honour the Indigenous Stewardship of the Chaudière Falls and the sacred Victoria Island.
The Chaudière Falls and its islands in Canada's Capital have been a sacred healing and meeting place for Indigenous peoples from the East coast to the Rockies for more than 5,000 years. We ask all Canadians to support our call to keep these islands and waters open to all Canadians under the stewardship of the Indigenous community.
This land and water was never ceded by treaty or sold to any government. For the past 65 years many citizens and their elected leaders on both sides of the Ottawa River have lauded the vision of Grandfather William Commanda who lobbied for the creation of a central park for all, and an indigenous national healing and peace centre. For the last thirty years, architect Douglas Cardinal has worked tirelessly to keep that vision alive. He supports the August 2015 statements by four Algonquin chiefs from Quebec and other Indigenous leaders who oppose a condo proposal by Windmill Development Group and Dream Corporation
In the spirit of reconciliation, we ask the federal party leaders to respond to the call by Algonquin and other Indigenous communities to honour Indigenous rights, and to restore this unique waterfall and its surrounding islands to the stunning beauty that lies beneath industrial ruins and a ring dam.
Useful information can be found at:
Our website: www.freethefalls.ca
Sept 30, 2015 4 Algonquin Chiefs requesting a meeting with all levels of government in opposition to the current Energy Ottawa destructive excavations: http://www.scribd.com/doc/283260469/Letter-From-Algonquin-Chiefs-Akikodjiwan-Sacred-Waterfalls-Area-Sept-30-2015
August 18, 2015; Four Algonquin First Nations in Quebec call for protection of sacred site: http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/-2048697.htm
August 19, 2015; Assembly of First Nations Quebec Labrador: http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/sacred-territories-to-preserve-522315021.html
B.C. First Nations Leadership: http://freethefalls.ca/news/b-c-s-first-nations-leadership-council-supports-akikodjiwan/
Asinabka: National Historic Centre at the sacred Chaudière site: https://ipsmo.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/asinabka-bn-brochure-final-french-eng.pdf
October 5, 2014; Ottawa Citizen; Fulfill Commanda’s Vision for Chaudière: http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/raaymakers-fulfill-commandas-vision-at-chaudiere