National Day for Truth and Reconciliation offers hope for healing, speaker says
As part of Canada's First National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Carleton University welcomed Tim O’Loan, member of the Dene Nation.
Indigenous arts group urges solemn remembrance of lives lost on first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
An Indigenous arts group is urging Canadians to observe the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation as a day of remembrance, like Nov. 11, for the hundreds of lives lost in residential schools. As Canada marks the first national day Thursday, the Indigenous Arts Collective of Canada is hosting a solemn eagle feather ceremony as part of the official...
Innovative Indigenous-led housing project set to rise beside Vancouver’s Burrard Street Bridge
Known as Senakw, the 12-tower housing development will mark a major milestone for Indigenous urban planning in North America.
Past and present meet in Rembrandt exhibition at National Gallery
The exhibition, Rembrandt in Amsterdam: Creativity and Competition, at the National Gallery of Canada makes a strong statement about modern times.
Local climate group takes part in 500 km solidarity bike tour with Indigenous organization
Ottawa Climate Justice is taking part in a 500 km solidarity bike tour to raise funds and awareness for the Assembly of Seven Generations.
Scientist who used radar to find graves at Kamloops residential school site only scanned two of 160 acres
The Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation released the findings of a search of the Kamloops residential school grounds, pointing to a long search ahead and investigation to identify the missing children.
RoseAnne Archibald becomes first woman to lead Assembly of First Nations
Roseanne Archibald of Ontario becomes the first woman to lead the Assembly of First Nations.
Intentions and hesitancy: Social media, family, friends among key reasons influencing Indigenous Peoples’ choice to get vaccine, survey shows
A survey on Indigenous People's vaccines intentions and hesitancy showed that friends, family, coworkers, community leaders and social media influence the willingness to get vaccinated.
Canada Day 2021: A time to reflect
This year, attitudes toward Canada Day were affected by recent revelations of the unmarked graves of Indigenous children on land near former residential schools and by the shocking attack that killed four members of a Muslim family in London, ON. Across the country on July 1, there were celebrations of Canada Day and rallies calling for the cancellation of the...
A closed door on Canada: Local businesses stand in solidarity with Indigenous community
This Canada Day, select local businesses in Ottawa are putting their sales on hold to stand in solidarity with Indigenous people.
‘It’s not a day to celebrate Canada’: Cancel Canada Day rallies planned for July 1
Protests will be held across the country today calling for the cancellation of Canada Day because of the discovery of the unmarked graves of children near residential schools in British Columbia and Saskatchewan.
Planning committee approves zoning change to allow eight-storey Lowertown supportive housing building for Indigenous people and women in need
The city's planning committee has approved a zoning change to allow the construction of an eight storey building at 216 Murray St. to offer housing to Indigenous people and women in Lowertown.
Why does Canada hide its shameful history and its consequences for Indigenous Peoples
Travelling was my hobby before I emigrated to Canada. During my trips both within and outside of my home country, Bangladesh, I always tried to taste local and regional food to appreciate the culture of the place I visited. Naturally, I looked for Canadian food when I arrived in 2016. I found the ‘United Nations of Cuisines’, especially on the...
Powwow dancers showcase talents during virtual Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival
Indigenous dancers celebrate their culture with a virtual powwow.
Ontario gives $10 million for investigation of unmarked graves at former residential schools
Ontario will spend $10 million to help Indigenous nations find and commemorate unmarked burial sites at former residential schools in the province. The Ford government made the announcement Tuesday morning. The money will be granted over a three-year period. The federal government has set aside $27.1 million to assist Indigenous communities in identifying unmarked burial sites at former residential schools. Tuesday’s...
Ottawa-based project “Ajashki” finalist for first Future Ground Prize
The David Suzuki Future Ground prize will be awarded for the first time in Ontario June 16. Throughout the month of April, the foundation received over 130 applicants and narrowed it down to 15 finalists. One of those finalists is a project titled "Ajashki" which means soil in Algonquin language.
“We can’t let the pandemic stop us from doing the work that we do”: Native Women’s Association holds online support circles for residential school survivors
The Native Women’s Association of Canada is holding online support circles for residential school survivors in wake of Kamloops discovery.
UPDATE: Hamilton school board votes to rename Ryerson Elementary School because of connection with residential school system founder
A trustee for the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board is pushing for local Ryerson Elementary School to be renamed.
Teenaged Indigenous climate activist part of unique month-long celebration of Indigenous voices at Carleton
Autumn Peltier, the “Water Warrior,” was one of the speakers at a month long celebration of Indigenous culture and communities at Carleton University called Minwàdjiyà-n.
Stunning ‘sunset’ park planned for controversial Zibi development on Ottawa River
Plans for a 25-storey residential building on Chaudière Island as part of the Zibi development include a new city park — named Pangishimo after the Algonquin word for sunset — offering a stunning, westward view of the Ottawa River. The City of Ottawa’s planning committee examined a report earlier this year on the project’s latest design, which includes a new...
Local photographer partners with Carleton gallery to provide free portraits for 2SLGBTQ+, BIPOC communities
The Carleton University Art Gallery is conducting its first collaboration with a local photographer to provide free portraits for 2SLGBTQ+ and BIPOC individuals.
Decades of arsenic poisoning produced by Giant Mine has caused irreversible damage to Dene First Nation land
The federal government moves forward with discussions of compensation for Yellowknife Dene First Nation, for the decades of arsenic poisoning caused by Giant Mine.
Carleton to honour Inuit by renaming Robertson Hall without mentioning controversial history of High Arctic relocation
MONTREAL — Carleton University is moving forward with a plan to change the names of three campus buildings. The “New Names for New Times” initiative is an attempt to reflect diversity and inclusion on campus. The University Centre, Residence Commons and Robertson Hall will get new names to represent the Algonquin Nation, Black communities, and Inuit respectively. Robertson Hall is...
Belleville-area school board moved by student’s request to honour Black History Month
A 10 year old girl has inspired a Belleville, ON, school board to provide a positive way to honour the impact of Black and Indigenous culture on Canadian society
Land-based healing offers treatment program for youth rooted in Indigenous culture
Many Indigenous peoples are turning to land-based healing programs to help them reconnect with their roots and to cope with the traumas they have faced.
Canada’s child welfare system needs to be torn down and rebuilt to end its anti-Indigenous racism, critics say
The overrepresentation of Indigenous children in the Canadian welfare system accelerated throughout the 1960s, as a result of the Sixties Scoop. This is where Indigenous children were ripped away from their homes and placed into the child welfare system. The goal was to assimilate Indigenous children by placing them into white homes.
Watson has ‘burned a bridge’ after Council votes to move controversial development forward, Algonquin Elder says
Ottawa City Council voted in favour of including Tewin into new urban boundary, this Wednesday, with a vote of 16 to 8, creating further controversy with Algonquin Nation.
Ottawa takes a step along the Commanda Way
Ottawa City Council passed the street name change of Langevin Ave to Commanda Way.
The 25th Hour: On parade to beat the pandemic blues
Northern Saskatchewan town finds way to celebrate and connect during COVID-19 by organizing parades.
Centre tries to fill gap in Indigenous language programs in Ottawa
Implementing Indigenous language programs in schools would help with many things, including reconciliation and the preservation of culture.
Faces of change: The path of Claudette Commanda
Commanda Claudette became a professor and currently is a special adviser to the dean of law on reconciliation at uOttawa.
Quebec woman’s death after racist slurs prompts push to reform health care for Indigenous peoples
The Indigenous community continues bear the brunt of inadequate healthcare, regularly experiencing abusive treatment, negative stereotyping, and substandard care.
Faces of change: Ottawa photographer Katherine Takpannie uses her camera to raise awareness
Capital Current continues its occasional series profiling some of the people who are making a difference in our community: Katherine Takpannie says her journey with photography started when she was 15. “I have an uncle who gifted me a little point-and-shoot camera, and I had started a project called 365, when you take one photo a day for an entire...
Faces of change: John Medicine Horse Kelly brings communities together through music
Capital Current continues its occasional series profiling some of the people who are making a difference in our community: John Medicine Horse Kelly has spent the better part of the past three decades working to preserve and revitalize Indigenous culture through music. Nowadays, he works to create bridges between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities at Carleton University. Kelly, from Skidegate, Haida...
The death of Joyce Echaquan: ‘Indigenous people know it’s not unique’
Joyce Echaquan’s tragic death and the racist verbal abuse she faced while receiving medical treatment has shocked many Canadians, but her experience is far from an isolated incident, say Indigenous and non-Indigenous leaders alike. “Indigenous people know it’s not unique,” said Lorraine Whitman, head of the Native Women’s Association of Canada. Acknowledging that, four senior federal ministers convened a virtual...
15,000 City of Ottawa employees getting a lesson in Indigenous history and culture
This launch is an impactful step, for learning how to build better relationships, according to the City's diversity and inclusion specialist.
Faces of change: Heidi Langille is creating allies by celebrating Inuit culture
According to Heidi Langille, an urban Inuk and dedicated mother, one of the best ways to create allies is through the celebration of culture.
Ottawa Board of Health declares racism a public health issue, Black leader applauds ‘important gesture’
In the wake of the Ottawa Board of Health recognizing racism as a public health issue, community organizers who work at the intersection of race and health reflect on the way forward.
“RCMP has got go:” Indigenous youth lead protest in support of Wet’suwet’en in downtown Ottawa
Protesters march past Parliament Hill in support of the Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs. [Photo @ Erica Endemann]
VIA Rail resuming services as Belleville blockade lifted
VIA Rail is expected to fully resume services on Saturday, including out of Union Station in Toronto.[Photo © Justine Ricketts]
Winterlude Fire and Ice Festival transforms Bank Street on a cold day
The Fire and Ice Festival on Bank Street had more ice than fire this Saturday, with temperatures dropping to -25ºC.
Wet’suwet’en pipeline protests extend across Canada to Ottawa
More than 200 supporters of the Wet’suwet’en nation marched through downtown Ottawa recently.
Hundreds march through downtown Ottawa in solidarity with Wet’suwet’en
People in Ottawa and elsewhere across the country demonstrated against an RCMP raid on Wet’suwet’en protesters Thursday.
Panel discussion explores affordable housing, sustainability, social issues
In a housing panel discussion, the importance of addressing social inequality and the need for more sustainable and affordable housing were explored.
Downtown LGBTQ+ hub deepens knowledge of Indigenous tragedy
Kind Space, a downtown LGBTQ+ community centre, believes education is needed for the public to understand the implications of the report on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. That's why they have organized regular readings of chapters of the national report.
Àbadakone at the National Gallery: ‘Continous Fire’ invites viewers to experience international Indigenous art
Àbadakone, the National Gallery of Canada's new contemporary Indigenous art exhibition, opened Nov. 8 as the second in a planned series of three shows dedicated to showcasing the creativity of artists from dozens of Indigenous nations around the world.
Ottawa’s Indigenous community demands action on cases of missing, murdered women
The Indigenous community in Ottawa came together to fight for the closed and unresolved cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women.
Mòshkamo Festival a ‘long overdue’ celebration of Indigenous art
For Indigenous artist Natalie Sappier, the National Arts Centre’s Mòshkamo Festival was an important opportunity for healing — and incredibly long overdue.
Indigenous child-care program to launch as federal funds begin to flow
Local Indigenous preschool to open new child-care program
Ottawa’s Jeff Thomas found a second life on his artistic journey
Jeff Thomas is a self-taught professional photographer working to create conversation about Indigenous experience.