Indigenous leaders condemn craft festival at controversial Zibi site

Some Indigenous leaders in Ottawa are upset over a decision to hold a craft festival tied to Canada 150 celebrations on Albert Island, a significant place for the Algonquin Nation.

A group calledStudent and Labour Allies for Akikodjiwanisasking the Ottawa 2017 board of directors to withdrawits support forCraftfest,being held at the site of a controversial landdevelopment.

"We are dismayed that Ottawa 2017 is supporting the location of Craftfestwithin the boundaries of the proposed Zibi development on Albert Island. Although we have no quarrel with the event itself, the chosen locationis a serious mistake," the group wrote in an open letter.

"The event will bring thousands of people onto Albert Island, one ofthree islands that, with the sacred Chaudire Falls, constitute a place of deep spiritual significance to the Algonquin Nation. It is calledAkikodjiwan. Although 150 years of industrial development have ruinedthe land, most of the Algonquin Nations have asserted title to thelands and want them back."

On FridayWestfest producer Elaina Martin and Kitigan Zibi ElderAlbert Dumont issued a separate statement supporting the letter.

"Is it acceptable for a group like Ottawa 2017 to sponsor an event during Canada's year of reconciliation that puts the Ottawa 2017 logo next to that of Zibi?"Dumont is quoted asking in the release."No, it's not OKand there's no way this should be happening on Albert Island."

Organizers offer free space

Gareth Davies, a co-organizer of the festival, said Friday when organizers picked the sitethey asked the developer, Windmill, abouthow they were consulting with and including Indigenous communities in the development.

"They developed their own council of First Nations community members, advisers, called the Memengweshii Council, and the council has a lot of input into what's going to exist on the site after all the industrial remediation that Windmill is taking on," Davies said.

"We've also heard great stories about bringing in First Nations contractors who could not work off-reserve before. So they're breaking down barriers and they're building bridges, and we were really happy to hear that."

The festivalhas offered free market space for Indigenous craft makersand plans to host a panel Q&A discussion.

"So we're definitely doing what we can to ensure Craftfest is a platform for Indigenous communities," Davies said.

The craft festival begins Sunday and runs for two weeks.

A protest at the entrance to Albert Island, organized by the citizens' groupFree the Falls,is planned forlate Sunday morning, according to the release from Dumont and Martin.