For the fourth year running, New Edinburgh Park will be the site of the July 1st annual event to honour the Algonquin Anishinabe heritage of the area. Chief Constant Pinesi was the last prominent Algonquin Chief to have hunting grounds in Ottawa – at Rideau and Chaudière Falls.
The day’s festivities will begin at 9 am with the Sacred Fire ceremony, led by the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation. There will also be the opportunity to take a land tour along parts of the revitalized Chief Pinesi Trail, which was an ancient (approximately 8,000 years old) indigenous portage trail between the Ottawa and Rideau rivers. The trail is marked by signs created by Kitigan Zibi Anishanbeg artist Simon Brascoupé.
Attendees will greet an intrepid group of paddlers arriving around 12:30 pm along the shores of the Rideau River after having paddled since June 24th, retracing one of Chief Pinesi’s routes from Deep River. The group will include descendants of Chief Pinesi and other indigenous and non-indigenous participants.
A documentary film of last year’s journey from Chief Pinesi’s summering place at Oka, along the Ottawa River to his traditional hunting grounds in Ottawa is in production. Watch the trailer to learn more.
At the Fieldhouse there will be welcoming ceremonies led by the traditional and council leadership of the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation (AOPFN) including Kokom Jane Chartrand, Chief Greg Sarazin, Wendy Jocko and Councillor Merv Sarazin and local dignitaires. The paddlers will participate in a roundtable to share their thoughts on the journey, followed by the elder’s closing prayer at 3 pm to complete the day’s events.
