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

‘Moccasins on the ground’: What extra funding for Indigenous Guardians means for one First Nation

In a meeting with the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment and Indigenous partners, Environment and Climate Change Minister Steven Guilbeault announced an additional $30 million of funding for the Indigenous Guardians program.

Matteo Cimellaro

September 6th 2022

Canada and Aotearoa-New Zealand sign Indigenous collaboration arrangement following trip to island nation

A delegation that included Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu and Indigenous leaders signed a knowledge-sharing arrangement with officials from Aotearoa-New Zealand last week.

Matteo Cimellaro

September 2nd 2022

In Canada Council for the Arts’ new exhibit Looking the World in the Face, the so-called ‘other’ gazes back at you

In Looking the World in the Face, curator Amin Alsaden centres Indigenous and "otherized" artists as a statement of defiance.

Matteo Cimellaro

September 1st 2022

Congress of Aboriginal Peoples’ urgent message to environment ministers: include the grassroots

To correct mistakes from the past regarding the climate crisis, Elders must be consulted, says National Chief of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples Elmer St. Pierre.

Matteo Cimellaro

August 31st 2022

Native American Journalists Association bars New York Times from its conference over harmful coverage

The rift between the Native American Journalists Association and The New York Times grows. The paper, one of the largest in the world, has no Indigenous Peoples in its newsroom.

Matteo Cimellaro

August 26th 2022

Martha Kyak’s InukChic fashion is unapologetically Inuit, glamorous and political

Martha Kyak has seen her fashion designs in many places, but one of the most powerful was on stage next to the prime minister.

Matteo Cimellaro

August 25th 2022

‘To wake up our being’: New University of Ottawa program seeks to revitalize Indigenous law

The initiative aligns with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Call to Action 50, which calls on the federal government to support and promote Indigenous laws.

Matteo Cimellaro

August 24th 2022

Michelle O’Bonsawin’s Supreme Court appointment a step in the right direction, but still only a step

Michelle O'Bonsawin is poised to become the first Indigenous woman on the highest bench of Canada. It's good timing for key court challenges around Indigenous self-governance.

Matteo Cimellaro

August 19th 2022

Pikwakanagan welcomes community back to powwow, but not without controversy over sponsorships

Criticism of the sponsorships relates to two proposed nuclear waste sites — one for northern Ontario in Treaty 9 territory, the other in Chalk River on unceded Algonquin territory.

Matteo Cimellaro

August 19th 2022

Reclaiming what was almost lost: How Mādahòkì Farm is sharing the land for healing

Eight spirit horses live on Mādahòkì Farm, a tourism and events destination run by Indigenous Experiences, where they are a living representation of the farm’s larger work of reclamation, education and celebration of Indigenous cultures and traditions.

Matteo Cimellaro

August 16th 2022

Caroline Monnet reopens the horrors of The Black Case

The short film The Black Case plays with traditional horror tropes to tell a horrific story of a residential school survivor.

Matteo Cimellaro

August 11th 2022

Elder Claudette Commanda brings teachings, activism and humour to Ottawa U chancellorship

When Claudette Commanda, an Elder from Kitigan Zibi, was an undergraduate student, she wasn’t shy about asking what programs and services the University of Ottawa had for Indigenous students.

Matteo Cimellaro

August 10th 2022

If the Pope’s visit was the first step, what comes next for the Catholic Church?

“Hopefully, they will do more than a public relations stunt," says Niigaan Sinclair, Anishnaabe scholar and columnist for the Winnipeg Free Press.

Matteo Cimellaro

August 8th 2022

The Pope acknowledged what happened at residential schools was genocide. Where do the federal parties stand?

At the tail end of his “pilgrimage of penance” last week, Pope Francis recognized that what happened at Canada’s residential schools was genocide. It’s high time Parliament does the same, says NDP MP Leah Gazan.

Matteo Cimellaro

August 4th 2022

‘It just feels so raw’: National Chief RoseAnne Archibald reflects on the papal visit

Canada’s National Observer spoke with National Chief RoseAnne Archibald of the Assembly of First Nations about a whirlwind week of apologies, masses and next steps towards reconciliation.

Matteo Cimellaro

July 29th 2022