Urban Indigenous Communities in Ottawa

Matteo Cimellaro will be covering urban Indigenous communities in and around Ottawa.

Canada's National Observer is a proud participant of the Local Journalism Initiative, which supports the creation of original civic journalism that covers the diverse needs of underserved communities across Canada.

280 Articles

‘Like a slap in the face’: Native Women’s Association of Canada shut out of justice ministers meetings

In June, NWAC gave the federal government a failing grade in its report card of the federal government’s National Action Plan on MMIWG2S.

Matteo Cimellaro

October 7th 2022

Feds and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami announce $11-million investment in efforts to prevent suicide

The federal government and national Inuit organization Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) announced a new investment on Oct. 6 to help prevent suicide among Inuit. The funding adds to ongoing work, including culturally specific first aid and a partnership with Kids Help Phone.

Matteo Cimellaro

October 7th 2022

New federal Indigenous policy framework high on respect for Indigenous knowledge in consultation, but nil on veto power

The new Indigenous policy framework provides a road map for the mandates required around bills C-68 and C-69, which strengthened Indigenous knowledge and collaboration in impact assessments of development projects.

Matteo Cimellaro

October 6th 2022

Algonquin horticulturist helps Ottawa church’s garden project grow into Indigenous learning centre

The project first materialized as a modest food security project: an Algonquin horticulturalist and members of the First Unitarian Congregation started a garden in the back of the church and hosted lessons on the intersection of food security, foraging and climate change.

Matteo Cimellaro

October 5th 2022

National community groups partner to advance reconciliation

The top-down approach was inspired by grassroots local affiliates that were already working together, like in Saskatoon, Sask.

Matteo Cimellaro

September 30th 2022

Bill to create national reconciliation council set to pass second reading — but not without House gamesmanship, Miller says

The bill is a response to the Truth and Reconciliation calls to action 53 and 56 to create a national council that would act as an independent watchdog.

Matteo Cimellaro

September 30th 2022

Indigenous youth leaders call for a Truth and Reconciliation Day that remembers history, honours survivors and celebrates cultural resilience

Reconciliation is as much a personal journey as it is a collective one, said Taylor Behn-Tsakoza, co-chair of the Assembly of First Nations Youth Council.

Matteo Cimellaro

September 29th 2022

How an Indigenous tourism training program allowed Paula Naponse and her family tell their story through coffee beans and beads

The Beandigen Café, a coffee-pun play on the Anishnaabemowin word biindigen, or welcome, opened in November 2021 and serves as a storefront for Indigenous artisans and a community space for beading circles, Indigenous open mic nights, and NDN taco pop-ups.

Matteo Cimellaro

September 27th 2022

March to Parliament Hill brings youth, labour and Indigenous advocacy under the banner of climate action

Youth activists — some not even old enough to vote — led marches on Parliament Hill Friday, demanding the government do more to address the climate crisis as part of a global day of action.

Matteo Cimellaro

September 23rd 2022

Urban Indigenous populations continue to grow: 2021 census

The urban Indigenous population continues to grow in large urban centres, and they sometimes outpace census numbers, Ontario-based Tungasuvvingat Inuit says.

Matteo Cimellaro

September 22nd 2022

First Nations in B.C. urge feds, province to adopt climate action plan

The First Nations Climate Initiative released its new climate action plan, which calls for increased carbon offsets and trading and expanding renewables but stops short of calling for an end to fossil fuels.

Matteo Cimellaro

September 21st 2022

‘Where did the monarchy get that kind of wealth?’ Algonquin Elder wants Royal Family to apologize for colonial injustices

Albert Dumont, an Algonquin Elder, poet and storyteller, reflects on a complicated relationship with the Crown marked by past injustices like the pass system.

Matteo Cimellaro

September 20th 2022

Canada World Youth is shutting down, and with it will end its programming for Indigenous youth

“Thousands of Indigenous youth over the next decade will be deprived of life-changing programs focused on livelihoods,” Julien Michel, operations manager for Canada World Youth, told Canada’s National Observer.

Matteo Cimellaro

September 19th 2022

Feds fund SevenGen Indigenous youth energy summit, mentorship program

Minister of Natural Resources Jonathan Wilkinson has invested $442,600 in a summit aimed at Indigenous youth building a sustainable, equitable energy future.

Matteo Cimellaro

September 16th 2022

Federal government inks $1.4B partnership with Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumix

The largest loan in the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation's history was awarded to the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) on Tuesday.

Matteo Cimellaro

September 6th 2022