In July of this year Defenders of the Land, a network of Indigenous communities and activists involved with land struggles across Canada, put out a call to Indigenous people and their allies to organize events for a first ever Indigenous Sovereignty Week. In response, a number of Ottawa-based organizations and individuals have put together a comprehensive week of public activities starting on Saturday October 24. The intent of the week is to contribute to building a cross-Canada movement for Indigenous rights, self-determination, and justice that is led by Indigenous communities but with a broad base of informed support.
Indigenous Sovereignty Week events in Ottawa will start off on the 24th with a night of food, music and spoken word at the Odawa Native Friendship Centre. There will be something every day through the rest of the week including workshops, talks, films and music. The week will culminate with a walk to Victoria Island from downtown, featuring presentations on current issues along the way and a closing ceremony at the Island. The full schedule and details can be found here.
Indigenous Sovereignty Week, Oct 24-31, Ottawa
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Sat Oct 24
Celebrating Indigenous Cultural Resistance!
3:00pm - Workshop: Circle Stories Rising Strong: Love Your Voice, Share Your Song
by Moe Clark, Métis, and Emile Monnet, Algonquin – the Bird Messenger Collective
6:00pm – Dinner, 7:00pm - Kick-Off Concert for Indigenous Sovereignty Week
Featuring: Elder Dumont (Algonquin) Every Women’s Drum Group, Bird Messenger Collective, Mosha Folger (Inuit – Eskimocentricity), Suzanne Keeptwo (Metis of Algonquin/French and Irish) Christopher Herodier (Cree) Rachel Wuttunee (Oji-Cree), Luis Abanto (Peru)
Odawa Friendship Centre, 12 Stirling Avenue (at Scott)
Sun Oct 25, 1:00pm
Remembering Residential Schools
Presenters: Irene Lindsay Thomas Louttit, Gordon Williams, and Viola Thomas, Jackie Miller (Aboriginal Healing Foundation). Moderated by Violet Paul (AFN).
Ottawa Public Library main branch auditorium, 120 Metcalfe St (at Laurier)
Mon Oct 26, 6:30pm
Indigenous Perspectives on the Environment
Presenters: Daryl Sainnawap (Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug), Clayton Thomas Muller (Indigenous Environment Network), Gitz Crazy Boy (Dene and Blackfoot Nations), Marilyn Poucachiche (Barrier Lake Algonquin).
Ottawa Public Library main branch auditorium, 120 Metcalfe St (at Laurier)
Tues Oct 27, 7:00pm
Fighting for Our Rights: Indigenous Women and Youth in an Urban Context
Presenters: Joceyln Forsma, Clayton Thomas Muller, others TBA
St. Joseph’s Church, 151 Laurier Ave E. (at Cumberland) [Hall entrance at 174 Wilbrod St]
Wed Oct 28
5:00pm - Kahnesatake: 270 Years of Resistance (Film)
7:00pm - New Frontiers of Resistance: Exploring Kahnesatake and the Tar Sands
Presenters: Ellen Gabriel (Kahnesatake) and representatives from Beaver Lake First Nation.
St. Joseph’s Church, 151 Laurier Ave E. (at Cumberland) [Hall entrance at 174 Wilbrod St]
Thurs Oct 29, 7:00pm
Defenders of the Land: National Speakers Tour
Presenters: Art Manuel (Neskonlith / Indigenous Network on Economy and Trade), Russel Diabo (Kahnawake), Mireille Lapointe (Ardoch Algonquin)
St. Joseph’s Church, 151 Laurier Ave E. (at Cumberland) [Hall entrance at 174 Wilbrod St]
Fri Oct 30, 7:00pm
Pachakut’i (Cosmic Upheaval): the Emergence of Indigenous Peoples
Presenters: Ben Powless (Six Nations), Marcelo Saavedra-Vargas (Quechua-Aymara Nation and UofO), Georges E. Sioui (Huron-Wendatt Nation and UofO), Louise Cassleman (PSAC)
Alumni Auditorium, Jock Turcot University Centre, University of Ottawa
Sat Oct 31, 11:00am
Workshop: Indigenous Solidarity for Settlers
Presented by Indigenous Peoples Solidarity Movement - Ottawa
room 205, Jock Turcot University Centre, University of Ottawa
Sat Oct 31, 1:00pm
Celebrating Indigenous Sovereignty march and rally
Starting at the corner of Rideau and Sussex, ending on Victoria Island, informational stops along the way.
Followed by closing ceremony with elder Albert Dumont (Algonquin)