Posted on Thursday, September 26th, 2024
As we look ahead to the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we want to reflect on an important series of events hosted by the
Indigenous Initiatives Office throughout September.
The Tebwewin — Truth series occurred at all three Algonquin College campuses and gave the College community a chance to hear stories of the residential schools first-hand. These three gatherings saw speakers, employees and learners joined in speaking circles and provided residential school survivors the opportunity to share and reflect on their experiences. Read more >
Posted on Thursday, September 19th, 2024
To observe the importance of Powley Day, the Mamidosewin Centre hosted a screening from the Métis Nation of Ontario with a powerful film documenting this powerful story.
The landmark legal case recognized and affirmed that Métis people and communities lived on the land before the country was officially recognized as Canada and that their rights were to be entrenched within Section 35 of Canada’s Constitution.
The significance of the case cannot be understated. Because of this decision, the Métis in Canada are recognized as a distinct Indigenous people within Canada. In this case in 2003, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled unanimously in favour of Métis people and members of a Métis community.
About the case
(Reprinted from the Métis Nation of Ontario website)
In Powley, the courts recognized and affirmed what the MNO had been saying all along–-that there were distinct Métis people and communities on the land before Canada became Canada, before Ontario became Ontario, with a culture and identity all their own, and that their rights were entrenched within Section 35 of Canada’s Constitution. While other Métis rights cases had been fought in the courts before, Powley was the first to be appealed all the way up to the Supreme Court. It was led by the MNO, the Powley family and the Métis community around Sault Ste. Marie, but all Métis communities across Canada have greatly benefited from it.
The victory in Powley set the stage for a series of achievements for Métis people, not just in Ontario but across the Métis Nation Homeland, including the ground-breaking Métis Government Recognition and Self-Government Agreements signed in June 2019 by the MNO, the Métis Nation of Alberta, Métis Nation–Saskatchewan and the Manitoba Métis Federation.
Posted on Thursday, September 5th, 2024
Why was the Land Acknowledgement updated?
Anishinábe Aki means the land of the Anishinàbe Algonquin people. Algonquin College has recently worked with members of the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg and Pikwakanagan communities to expand its relationship. This includes regular meetings, knowledge sharing and flying the flag of the Anishinàbe Algonquin Nation on its three campuses. This also includes collaborating to co-develop and update the Algonquin College land acknowledgement statement.
What was the process to consider the various language components?
The goal of updating the land acknowledgement was to acknowledge the past and promote awareness, education and healing to move forward together with respect and mutual learning. Attention is also given to place a focus on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action. Read more >
Posted on Wednesday, September 4th, 2024
Sept. 4, 2024, Ottawa, ON – Algonquin College has welcomed back more than just its students this fall. The Kwey Indigenous Video
Language Series has returned with new video content, reaffirming the college’s commitment to embracing the traditional Anishinàbe Algonquin language on campus.
The video series is called Kwey, an Algonquin greeting that means hello. Launched in June 2024, the videos expanded on the College’s commitment to language revitalization to enhance and increase hearing and speaking the Anishinábe Algonquin language.
The newest collection continues this promise with topics including greetings and salutations and cultural information around smudging, community circles and the Seven Grandfather Teachings, which are Anishinàbe Algonquin Nation principles to live by. Read more >
Posted on Thursday, August 1st, 2024
Four Algonquin College students recently returned to Ottawa from studying in Wollongong, Australia, for two and a half weeks after participating in a for-credit study abroad experience at the University of Wollongong.
Students embarked on the transformative two-week study tour in Wollongong, where they were exposed to an immersive exploration into the rich tapestry of Indigenous Australia. Highlights included a visit to the Daintree Rainforest, where they participated in a “Welcome to Country” and “Dreamtime Walk,” as well as Stories with Elders and Rangers, a whale watching cruise with First Nations experts, a guest lecture on Indigenous whale stories and a guest lecture with Indigenous artist Josie Atkinson-Flanders about using art for sharing stories and activism. Read more >
Posted on Monday, July 15th, 2024
On a bright and hot sunny day along the shores of the Ottawa River, a light breeze unfurled the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan flag after it was raised by Algonquin College President Claude Brulé at the Pembroke Waterfront Campus. President Brulé called it a historic day as he spoke to college employees, members of the Pikwakanagan community and special guests who gathered around the flag pole to watch the flag raising.
Read more >
Posted on Tuesday, June 25th, 2024
Anita Tenaso, Director of Indigenous Initiatives, Claude Brulé, Algonquin College President and CEO, along with drummer Randy 
Kakegamick marked a special morning on campus to celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day. Read more >
Posted on Saturday, June 1st, 2024
As part of Algonquin College’s commitment to introducing and embracing the traditional Anishinàbe (ahnishinAHHbay) Algonquin Nation language on campus, during the month of June we will share vocabulary, phrases and information to familiarize learners and employees with the traditional language.
Please join Anita Tenasco, Director of Indigenous Initiatives, in using the words and phrases on campus, in classrooms and with colleagues and students. Read more >
Posted on Thursday, May 9th, 2024
A small group took to the campus on Thursday to hang red dresses in prominent locations to raise awareness and advocate for missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls (MMIWG) in Canada.
Red dresses were hung in and around E Building, as well as on surrounding nearby trees and nearby structures at the Ottawa Campus. Read more >
Posted on Monday, April 29th, 2024
Indigenous graduates from the Ottawa-area post-secondary institutions, including Algonquin College, were celebrated on Friday April 26
during the 16th annual Indigenous Graduate Honouring Ceremony held at La Cité.
Students from Algonquin College, Carleton University, La Cité, the University of Ottawa and various other institutions gathered at Excentricite to celebrate their achievements in a ceremony which included Indigenous guest speakers, ceremonial drumming and musical performances.
Jay Odjick, a writer, artist, and television producer of Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg delivered a keynote to inspire the students on their education journey. Odjick is known for his graphic novel and television series Kagagi: The Raven, children’s book Bear for Breakfast (with Robert Munsch). He was Department of English at the University of Ottawa’s first Indigenous writer in residence in Fall 2023. Read more >