Akikodjiwan is the Algonquin name for the Sacred Chaudiere Falls and the adjoining Sacred Chaudiere Islands. Sacred to numerous tribes across North America, home to the Algonquins on their unceded territory – “The falls of our grand river (Ottawa River) were truly seen by the People as an altar touched by the goodness of Kichi Minido, the Great Spirit” – Albert Dumont, Algonquin Elder.

In direct opposition to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the Government of Canada is allowing and encouraging a condo and commercial development to quickly privatize the land to prevent significant First Nations presence in the Nation's capital. 

With this development, all Canadians are concerned - the development directly conflicts with the Nation’s Capital’s planning framework. The islands lie along Confederation Boulevard’s circle, Canada’s “ceremonial and discovery route” that unifies Quebec and Ontario while showcasing nationally significant public spaces alongside Parliament Hill - the Royal Canadian Mint, Notre Dame Cathedral, National Gallery of Canada, Canadian Museum of History, Major Hill Park, Supreme Court of Canada, Library Archives Canada, Holocaust Museum, and the Canadian War Museum, to name a few. Not only are private condo towers inappropriate within the Confederation Boulevard’s esteemed focal point of Canadian history, culture and governance, but these condos would block the views of many of these significant Canadian sites - an embarrassment for our Nation’s Capital.

The condo development is truly an aggression of the Canadian Government – the land is not owned by the private developer, it is leased, and the Canadian Government is acting as co-developer. The private developer is expecting public money to pay for the site preparations needed to privatize the land, and has made no safety plans for flooding (this year, the flood would have reached the second floor of their proposed buildings). Canadians do not support such reckless spending of tax-payer money. Unfortunately, many Canadians are unaware of the impacts and motivations of these plans, or have been mislead by the vigorous advertising campaigns which promote the condo development using severe green-washing and red-washing strategies.

For years, local residents, concerned citizens, the Algonquin people, and tribes across the country have strongly opposed this development. Numerous court actions have been taken to demand that the land be returned to First Nations to give meaningful Indigenous presence in the capital while strengthening the beauty and integrity of Canada’s Confederation Boulevard. These court cases continue today, and we call upon citizens of the world to support the Elders’ vision for true Nation to Nation reconciliation in the capital through the return of Akikodjiwan to the Indigenous Peoples of Canada.