VICTORIA ISLAND INDIGENOUS CENTRE MAY 2005 UPDATE
Full
Moon, May 23, 2005
MESSAGE FROM WILLIAM COMMANDA,
ALGONQUIN ELDER, KITIGAN ZIBI
ANISHINABEG
RE: VICTORIA ISLAND INDIGENOUS
CENTRE
1. I am writing to provide you with a status
report on the Victoria Island Initiative.
2. These are the key activities and
accomplishments of the past three years:
a.
Presentation
of vision to the Algonquin Tribal Councils and Bands
b.
Community
consultation
c.
Elders’
Gathering to develop vision
d.
Unified
expression of general support from Algonquin Nations in both Quebec and Ontario
e.
Promotion to
Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal groups, including National Aboriginal
Organizations, Governor General etc
f.
Securing of
funding in the amount of $50,000 to
a.
develop the
architectural plans to the next level, and
b.
contract
services of former Parks Canada Agency CEO to National Capital Commission to
prepare a draft proposal to cabinet, in consultation with key responsible
ministries
g.
Negotiation of
the proposed plan, as attached, which generally positions the Algonquin nations
to assume a strong leadership role in the initiative consistent with
territorial rights and responsibilities, while affording all other Aboriginal
peoples from across the country, First Nations, Inuit and Metis, their rightful
place in this national initiative.
3. Since the finalization of this draft
proposal, which, I stress, has not yet
been reviewed formally nor endorsed by Cabinet, the federal government has
been in turmoil, and this has hindered any further advancement of the
initiative.
4. The attached proposal only addresses the
portion of the vision that pertains to the Indigenous Centre on the eastern
half of the island.
The
parts of the vision that propose, one, the conference centre (hotel, concert
hall, banquet complex) and two, the pow wow grounds, in this place our
ancestors called
Asinabka, Place of Glare Rock, need to be developed to
ensure indigenous control of the development in this traditional meeting area
of our ancestors. We have recently lost
much ground in the LeBreton Flats and Lac Lemay areas.
Likewise,
the vision for the healing of our relationship with Mother Earth, by freeing
the waters of the Akikpautik, the
sacred Chaudière Rapids, and creating a park on Chaudière Island, which, we
note, the principles guiding the work of Parks Canada Agency are consistent
with, needs to be advanced. The current
initiative to designate the Ottawa
River
a Heritage River can serve to support this end.
5. The momentum building with the Olympics
2010 preparations, when the world comes to Canada, lends urgency to the need to
develop the Victoria Island project, to capitalize on the opportunity for
Aboriginal Peoples to take their rightful place in this land of our ancestry,
in the spirit of unity that was our heritage and birthright.
6. Considerable interest in the project from
Aboriginals and non Aboriginals exists, and could be readily mobilized to
advance the project.
7. I believe that it is time to assume our
rightful responsibility in this land.
This is consistent with the message of the Seven Fires Prophecy and the
sacred Wampum Belt of our ancestors. We
have lost much of our heritage over the past centuries, but it is time to find
our strength and voices again. The future of our children demands this of
us. Victoria Island offers us an
opportunity to do this in a positive manner, and to heal the divisiveness
within our communities. In unity lies our strength; as someone said, divided,
we beg.
Since
the national capital region falls within our unceded, unsurrendered,
unconquered traditional territories, it is especially important for the
Algonquin presence to be felt here. It
is also important for indigenous values to influence the development of this
country, as is inherent in the message of the Three Figure Welcoming Wampum
Belt of our peoples.
We
begin to see the influence of our traditional values taking hold globally:
Respect for Mother Earth (sustainable
development, not exploitation)
Justice (restorative, healing practices,
not just punishment)
Health (wholistic healing – spiritual,
mental, physical and emotional)
Integrated spirituality, consistent with
the Medicine Wheel.
But
there is much more work to be done, to recover and entrench our old values in
this land.
8. I am taking this opportunity to invite you
to the Fifth Annual Gathering of Nations
Pipe Ceremony at Victoria Island at 10 a.m. on June 21, National Aboriginal Day. I request that you forward this information
and invitation to all the members of your communities.
9. Finally, I wish to invite you to
participate in our Annual Circle of All
Nations Spiritual Gathering, this year scheduled for August 5, 6 and 7, at
my home on Pitobig Mikan, Maniwaki, Quebec.
Again, the Victoria Island Initiative will be the subject of a special workshop. This year’s theme is Celebrating Culture.
Thank
you for your attention to and assistance with these matters.
Megwetch!
William
Commanda
Algonquin
Elder
819-449-2668;
613-599-8385