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"These beautiful, sacred waterfalls and islands lie at a symbolic confluence of waters: The rivers flow into the centre from the South, West and North, and in turn flow to the East. Similarly, our own ceremonial lodges embrace the four directions and are opened to the East. Furthermore, the Chaudière Falls creates a great kettle; a whirlpool that brings water deep into the earth. With the uprising mist and the surrounding rock forms, the falls appear as a sacred pipe, sculpted by the Creator. In our ancestral memory, we have practised our ceremonies here since time immemorial. It is where we shared the best of who we are in the past and it is where we will share the best of who we are in the future."
-Douglas Cardinal, architect of the Canadian Museum of History; a forerunner in holistic sustainability, green buildings and ecologically designed community planning.
Widely known Elder William Commanda held this vision for Akikodjiwan. He worked with Elder and renowned architect Douglas Cardinal to manifest the vision into a set of comprehensive drawings.
The hope remains for today's indigenous artists, architects, creators, and makers to continue to develop this plan and bring it to fruition to create a true inter-tribal hub for First Nations across the country, hosted by the Algonquins on their reclaimed unceded traditional territory in the Nation's Capital.
THE FALLS
FOREST PARK
TRADE POST
SPIRITUAL CENTRE
NORTH
WEST
SOUTH
EAST
Click on arrows to see the design
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