Ottawa marking National Aboriginal Day
Posted Jun 21, 2013 11:06:58 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
OTTAWA – A group of demonstrators marched from Victoria Island to Parliament Hill Friday afternoon to mark National Aboriginal Day.
The group of nearly 250 people departed from Victoria Island at 12:30 p.m., and walked along the Portage Bridge and Wellington Street to Parliament Hill.
Meantime, two groups of First Nations were honoured at Ottawa City Hall Friday morning.
The flags of the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan and the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation are now flying high with the City of Ottawa flags.
Chief Gilbert Whiteduck told 1310News it is honour the city is recognizing them.
“(It’s) a very significant day because it is the first time Anishinabe flags, our community flags are being raised here at city hall,” he said. “It’s really the result of work with the city of Ottawa, and Mayor Jim Watson in particular, who has always recognized that the city of Ottawa is located on unceded, unsurrendered, non-treatied Algonquin land.”
Mayor Jim Watson said the honour would happen year after year going forward.
“This is the very first time the City of Ottawa has participated in this flag raising ceremony,” Watson told the crowd. “I believe today you’ve witnessed history as we start a new tradition to honour and respect the first inhabitants of this good earth.”
