PROIECTTITLE: Canada's 150*: Reconciling on our Waterways PROIECTOUTLINE: This collaborative project will bring together Canadians including the Algonquin First Nation through a focus on our waterways to encourage active living and environmental stewardship, to celebrate our diversity in inclusive ways, and to help shape Canada for the future. In the spring (including on National Aboriginal Day) of2017 in celebration of Canada's 150"‘ anniversary, a series ofpublic presentations will take place across Renfrew County. The presentations will be made by Algonquin First Nation and non-native speakers and will focus on the traditional and historical value ofthe canoe and the ancestral paddle routes in our region (including the Ottawa River which has just recently been designated as a Canadian heritage river), the need for conservation and environmental stewardship of our waterways and the importance ofactive living and transportation (including hiking, kayaks, stand—uppaddle boards). In the spring/summer of 2017, a series of paddling excursions will be organized and led by area naturalists in conjunction the Algonquin First Nation peoples along traditional routes. The launch of the paddle series will be during Aboriginal Awareness Week. Participants ofall ages and cultural backgrounds will learn about the historical and First Nations importance ofthe waterways and the need for environmental protection and stewardship of our waterways for a sustainable and healthy Canadian future. The paddle excursions will take place on many ofour Renfrew County rivers and lakes, including the Ottawa River to further celebrate its recent designation as a Canadian Heritage River, and to link the provinces ofOntario and Quebec, the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation in Ontario and the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation in Quebec. To further celebrate Canada's diversity and to highlight local talent, music, community drumming and local food will be featured at some of the group paddles events and will add to the festive nature and celebrations. All of the events will be held free ofcharge, to allow for accessible participation by all. PARTNERS: Ottawa River Institute (lead) Bonnechere River Watershed Project (confirmed) SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS: Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation, Golden Lake, Ontario (con?rmed) Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation , Maniwaki, Quebec (pending) Bonnechere Provincial Park — Ontario Parks (con?rmed) Friends of the Bonnechere Parks (pending) Friends of Oiseau Rock (proposed) County of Renfrew (pending) Tsp. Bonnechere Valley (proposed) Tsp. of Horton (confirmed) Tsp. McNab-Braeside (proposed) Tsp. Killaloe—Haggarty-Richards (confirmed) City of Pembroke (proposed) Town of Renfrew (confirmed) Municipality of Sheenboro (proposed) County of Pontiac (proposed) Bonnechere Valley library (pending) Arnprior Library (pending) Pembroke Library (proposed) Killaloe & District Public Library (con?rmed) Physical Activity Network/KidActive (confirmed) Renfrew Community Resource Centre (confirmed) Sustainable Eastern Ontario (proposed) Bonnechere Caves (confirmed) TV Cogeco (proposed; video equipment) PRESENTATION SERIES: April 6: The history ofAlgonquin Canoe Making Thurs. Ron Bernard and Sherri-Lynn Sarazin, Algonquins of Pikwakanagan (confirmed) Location: Pikwakanagan Elders Lodge April 20: The Ottawa River — Past, Present and Future Thurs. Ottawa River Heritage Designation Committee (proposed) Location: Arnprior Public Library May 4: Footprints in Time/Spirits ofthe Little Bonnechere Thurs. Bonnechere Provincial Park (confirmed) Friends ofBonnechere Provincial Parks Location: Pembroke Public Library May 18: Knowing Ourselves through our Rocks Thurs. Chris Hinsperger, Owner/Operator, Bonnechere Caves, Eganville (confirmed) Location: Bonnechere Valley Municipal Library, Eganville June21 National Aboriginal Day Wed. Presentation on the Algonquin Land Claim Location: Killaloe & District Public Library PADDLE EXCURSION SERIES: May 27 Aboriginal Awareness Week Sat. Bonnechere River—Golden Lake (Pikwakanagan) to Wilber Lake Beginning: Algonquins of Pikwakanagan awareness presentation & blessing En route: Conservation 8: Stewardship End: Community drumming and BBQ June14 York River to the Madawaska River Wed. Beginning: Algonquins ofPikwakanagan awareness presentation & blessing En route: Hike to an Algonquin archeological site & brown bag lunch End: Conservation 8: Stewardship June24 Ottawa River: Red Pine Bay, Braeside, Ontario to Norway Bay, Quebec Sat. Beginning: Ottawa River heritage designation & Algonquins of Pikwakanagan blessing (TBC) Norway Bay: Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg Conservation 8: Stewardship End: McNab—BraesideRiverfest Jul5 Bonnechere River: Renfrew boat launch to the former beach roundtrip Wed. Beginning: Our public beaches En route: Conservation & stewardship End: Future possibilities Jul8 Petawawa—Barron River Sat. Beginning: Algonquins of Pikwakanagan blessing En route: Shoreline lunch & story telling End: Conservation & Stewardship ]uly 22 Ottawa River: Portage-du-Fort, Quebecto the Bonnechere River, Ontario Sat. Beginning: Ottawa River heritage designation & Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg blessing En route: Conservation & Stewardship End: Community drumming & BBQ July 29 Little Bonnechere River Sat. Beginning: Ancestral 8: settlement history En route: Conservation & Stewardship End: Refreshments & Footprints in Time Trail at Bonnechere Provincial Park Aug 19 Traditional Algonquin Pow Wow, Pikwakanagan Sat-Sun Information booth Aug 26 Ottawa River: Port William/Sheenboro, Quebecto Migizi Kiishkaabikaan (Oiseau rock) Sat. Fort William: Algonquin & settlement history Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg and Algonquins of Pikwakanagan blessing Oiseau Rock: Hike to look-out; brown bag lunch; presentation on the sacred site Fort William: Our heritage going forward Community drumming, local food & closing ceremony BUDGET [amounts to be determined]: ORI-BRWP Coordinator — time @ $25/hr - travel @ $.40/km Updating ofAlgonquins of Pikwakanagan Awareness display Participation of Elders — 5 presentations; 8 excursions Honorarium (Pikwakanagan in—kind) Travel Presentation series (5 events) — Speaker[s) honorarium & travel — Refreshments - Venue rental (in«kind) Paddle excursion series (8 events) - Speaker[s) honorarium & travel - Paddling shuttles — Community drumming — Honorarium 8; travel for 3 events - Local food/refreshmentsexpenses Advertising/Promotion/Documentation - Posters - Print media - Photo/Video.