Annette Francis
APTN National News
A new park in downtown Ottawa officially opened Tuesday on the eve of Aboriginal Day.
The park, located at Lebreton Flats to the west of downtown, is meant to highlight Indigenous culture and heritage according to the architects.
It’s Algonquin name is Pindigen Park, meaning “come on in, all are welcome here,” according to Pikwakanagan First Nation Chief Kirby Whiteduck.
“We designed it to demonstrate harmony between people, land. water, and earth,” said Whiteduck. “To remind people to live well with the right balance with the earth and everything on it, the air and everything in it, and the water and everything in it.”
The park features green space, a garden area, colourful illustrations of each element, and steel silhouettes of animals created by Algonquin artists, Sylvia Tennisco, and Tony Amikons, both from Pikwakanagan First Nation.
Pindigen Park was created in collaboration with The National Capital Commission (NCC), Kitigan Zibi First Nation, and Pikwakanagan First Nation.
Mark Kristmanson, CEO of the NCC said he’s proud of the creation.
“Pindigen Park will foster a deeper understanding of Anishinabe culture and values and the historic presence of the Algonquins in the Capital region,” he said.
It is good to honour and acknowledge that our national capital sits on unceded Indigenous land. Let’s add Akikidjiwan to the sites now being acknowledged and honoured.