National Aboriginal Day in Canada

National Aboriginal Day

Elevating the knowledge and understanding of the First Nations, Metis and Inuit people.

The movie shows an Algonquin village on Victoria Island just below the Chaudière Falls on the Ottawa River. This village is a unique window into the culture of our Aboriginal neighbours. As long as 8,000 years before Europeans came to North America this location was a meeting place where the original inhabitants of the Ottawa River watershed came to trade and socialize with other families who paddled here from their villages on the Upper Ottawa, the Rideau, Gatineau, Mississippi, Mattawa, Bonnechere and Madawaska Rivers. The village is also a reminder of the unsettled land claims linked to a series of petitions to the Crown dating back to 1772. The Algonquin claim covers an area of 8.9 million acres (14,000 square miles), within the watersheds of the Ottawa and the Mattawa Rivers in Ontario. The area that is the subject of the Algonquin claim includes most of Algonquin Park as well as CFB Petawawa and the National Capital Region.

National Aboriginal Day provides all Canadians an opportunity to share the culture and history of the original inhabitants of North America. Aboriginal peoples from the Atlantic, to the Pacific, to the Arctic Oceans will gather to celebrate and share their spectacular dance, song and theatrical performances both contemporary and traditional. These celebrations provide an exceptional opportunity to meet people with whom we share our daily lives and our future challenges.

Proclaimed by the Governor General of Canada on June 13, 1996, June 21st has become a day in the Canadian calendar that presents Aboriginal peoples with an opportunity to express with great pride their rich and diverse cultures with their families, neighbours, friends and visitors.

June 21 was chosen because it corresponds to the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, and because for generations, many Aboriginal groups have celebrated their culture and heritage at this time of year. It also starts the 11 days to Celebrate Canada and includes, Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day (June 24), Multiculturalism Day (June 27) and concludes with Canada Day (July 1)

National Aboriginal Day is an opportunity to become better acquainted with the cultural diversity of Inuit, Métis and First Nations peoples, to discover the unique accomplishments of Aboriginal peoples and to celebrate their significant contribution to Canadian society.

9 Algonquin First Nations Communities are located in the Ottawa River watershed in the Provinces of Ontario and Quebec they include the; Abitibiwinni (Picogan); Timiskaming; Eagle Village (Kebaouek); Wolf Lake; Long Point (Winneway); Kitcisakik (Grand Lac); Lac Simon; Mitcikinabik Inik (Algonquins of Barriere Lake); Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg (River Desert) and the Pikwakanagan (at Golden Lake)

Aboriginal peoples are very connected to the land, the animals, their natural surroundings, their history and culture, Anishinabe Philosophy, Way to Live and Teachings of the Seven Grandfathers

For more information visit the Algonquin Way of Life Cultural Centre Omåmiwinini Pimådjwowin and the Odawa Native Friendship Centre

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USA-Canada / Canada-Ontario

Lat: 45° 25' 19" N
Long: 76° 43' 37" W

Elevation: 42 metres

→ maps.google.com [EXT]

Precision is: Medium. Nearby, but not to the last decimal.

Nikon Coolpix 950, WC-E24 converter lens, Kaidan KiWi head, tripod, QuickTime Virtual Reality Studio, Photoshop