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They noted that he had been a strong advocate for the rights of his people, and First
Nations and Indigenous peoples everywhere; had spent years advocating for the reconciliation with non-aboriginals; had become a role model, especially for troubled youth and people seeking guidance over the residential school experience; and had organized national and international gatherings of Elders and world leaders.
53:
265:, a gathering to restore aboriginal culture and spirituality. For this, he invited people to his home for a summit every August to promote good relations between nations, healing, peace, and the protection of Earth. This meeting continues to be held annually, and includes others interested in ecology.
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William
Commanda has a building named after him at the University of Ottawa. The Institute of Canadian and Aboriginal Studies is called the William Commanda Building. William Commanda never had any children. Grandfather Commanda's wife Mary passed away in the late 1980s. The couple had no children
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Nations". And the Vice Grand Chief of the
Algonquin Nation Tribal Council, Marlene Jerome, said: "A page of our history has closed with William Commanda, but Algonquin people will have an everlasting memory of a great man dedicated to defending his people and to the protection of the environment".
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Commanda had been suffering from kidney failure and was in the hospital over the months preceding his death. He died early on the morning of August 3, 2011, at his home on the Kitigà n-zìbì reserve. In the days after his death, many Native leaders and others praised
Commanda's work and his legacy.
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said: "He was a truly unique and exceptional man who dedicated his life to building bridges between people of all nations and all generations. His wisdom, his dedication to his people and his example were an inspiration to leaders not only of my generation but across many generations of First
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He received the key to the city of Ottawa along with an honorary doctorate degree from the
University of Ottawa, and a lifetime achievement award from the National Aboriginal Achievement Awards Foundation. Commanda also participated in activities and ceremonies in the United Nations, organized
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Commanda, although he was married, he never had children, he was referred to with the respectful name "Grandfather." In his later years he was accorded numerous honours as he continued to act as a spiritual leader for his people and as a campaigner on behalf of peace, indigenous rights, and
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name
Ojigkwanong (meaning "Morning Star," or more literally "he expels a star") came about as his mother looked out the window of the family's log cabin and saw the morning star shining. Commanda had several notable ancestors, including his grandfather Chief Louizon Commanda, and his
226:. The Commandas' seven children frequently went hungry, and sources of income were infrequent. For work, William became a master birchbark canoe maker, and also worked in lumber camps. His health, weakened from his years living in poverty, finally began to improve in 1961.
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From 1951 to 1970, Commanda served as Band Chief of the Kitigà n-zìbì Anishinà beg First Nation. In 1970, his community presented him with three sacred wampum belts, precious historical records and artifacts. The three Wampum Belts that were under his care are:
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international meetings of seniors and world leaders, and conducted peace pipe ceremonies for the Rio Earth Summit in 1991. In 1987 he was asked to build a canoe for Queen
Margrethe of Denmark. Also in 1987, at the fourth
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He celebrated his 96th birthday with Prince
Charles at Rideau Hall, opening the dinner with a First Nations prayer. Around 150 guests were present at the dinner, which was followed by a potluck at Commanda's home.
182:, from 1951 to 1970. In his life, he worked as a guide, a trapper and woodsman, and was a skilled craftsman and artisan who excelled at constructing birch bark canoes. He was Keeper of several Algonquin
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He also adopted Mary's son, Sonny Smith-Commanda, who died in the 1990s, and his only surviving sibling is Mary
Commandant (her name differs from his because a French priest incorrectly recorded it).
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on inherent rights and self-government for
Aboriginal people, Commanda began teaching about the messages of the wampum belts. He was invited in 1990 to provide a traditional blessing of the
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For his leadership as an elder who has promoted intercultural understanding and has raised awareness of the traditions and legacies of Canada's Aboriginal people.
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His youth was spent in severe poverty and difficulty on the reserve. On one occasion he resorted to hiding in the bush in order to avoid the
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In 2021, the former Prince of Wales train bridge, an interprovincial crossing between Ottawa, Ontario and Gatineau, Quebec, was renamed the
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in Ottawa, and South March Highlands in Kanata. He promoted returning the Chaudière Falls to its original state, freed from the concrete.
679:"AFN and First Nations Mourn the Passing of Algonquin Elder "Grandfather" William Commanda, an Inspirational Leader, Teacher and Activist"
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550:"A VISION FOR VICTORIA ISLAND: Victoria Island Comprehensive March 2003 Report, Presented by William Commanda, Algonquin Elder"
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Profiles in Wisdom: Native Elders Speak About the Earth - Chapter 2 (Bear & Co. 1992; iUniverse 2000) (
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together, but they did adopt Mary's niece, now 65-year-old Evelyn Dewache-Commanda, she had no children.
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elder, spiritual leader, and promoter of environmental stewardship. Commanda served as Band Chief of the
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with an eagle feather on behalf of the First Nations of Canada. That same year, Commanda organized
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317:. He continued to work until his final days for the preservation of sacred spaces, such as
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Spiritual leader; band chief (1951–1970); promoter of environmental stewardship
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606:"Algonquin elder William Commanda was honoured for efforts to bridge cultures"
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https://ottawacitizen.com/Archival+story+Morning+Star+rise/5200089/story.html
753:— story of the 3,500 mile prayer walk Grandfather Commanda led in 1995–1996.
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https://www.ammsa.com/publications/windspeaker/william-commanda-footprints
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for his efforts promoting intercultural understanding and racial harmony.
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705:"Former Prince of Wales Bridge gets renamed, and $ 14M in city funding"
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William Commanda, 2002 at Canada Council Celebration of Aboriginal Arts
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as part of a project to rehabilitate the bridge as a recreation path.
298:. In 1998, Commanda participated in a ceremony at which he presented
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656:"Governor General Announces New Appointments to the Order of Canada"
452:"Governor General Announces New Appointments to the Order of Canada"
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Belt (considered a founding document of the Algonquin Nation);
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Assembly of First Nations - News & Media - Latest News
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532:"Keeper of the wampum: William Commanda, Algonquin elder"
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Keeper of the wampum: William Commanda, Algonquin elder.
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William Commanda, Algonquin spiritual leader, dead at 97
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https://chiron-communications.com/?s=profiles+in+wisdom
206:(now Kitigà n-Zìbì) to Alonzo and Marie Commanda. His
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763:National Film Board film on William Commanda
458:. Queen in Right of Canada. 30 December 2008
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746:A Circle of All Nations: A Culture of Peace
202:Commanda was born on November 11, 1913, in
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759:By Jennifer Clibbon, CBC News, Aug 3, 2011
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631:"Aboriginal leader Commanda dies at home"
224:Canadian Indian residential school system
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134:Kitigà n-zìbì Anishinà beg First Nation
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400:CNW Telbec - Une societe PR newswire
186:shell belts, which held records of
215:, who in 1854 led his people from
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230:Band chief and rise to prominence
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57:William Commanda (by Carol Noel)
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854:Officers of the Order of Canada
839:Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg people
18:William Commanda (Kitigà n-zìbì)
292:Canadian Human Rights Monument
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354:Chief William Commanda Bridge
282:environmental consciousness.
849:Indigenous leaders in Quebec
575:Nease, Kristy (2011-08-03).
288:First Ministers' conference
204:River Desert Indian Reserve
77:River Desert Indian Reserve
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769:Videos of William Commanda
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211:great-grandfather Chief
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844:First Nations artists
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346:Shawn A-in-chut Atleo
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263:Circle of All Nations
241:Seven Fires Prophecy
859:Artists from Quebec
294:in Ottawa with the
257:He built canoes at
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610:The Globe and Mail
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132:Band Chief of the
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462:21 February
269:Later years
217:Oka, Quebec
213:Pakinawatik
167:Ojigkwanong
823:Categories
728:2023-08-18
703:CBC News.
689:2015-10-31
641:2015-10-31
616:2015-10-31
586:2015-10-31
561:2015-10-31
406:2015-10-31
367:References
296:Dalai Lama
248:Jay Treaty
198:Early life
188:prophecies
69:1913-11-11
723:AAMSA.com
555:Angelfire
208:Algonquin
172:Algonquin
158:Algonquin
536:CBC News
774:YouTube
259:Expo 67
184:wampum
160:name:
111:Canada
107:Quebec
85:Canada
81:Quebec
178:near
126:Title
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