Algonquin Elder gets justice award

Page 3

OTTAWA-At the University of Ottawa Community Legal Clinic's first award dinner, Elder William Commanda accepted the Aboriginal Justice Award from Ontario's Lt.-Gov. James K. Bartleman on Nov. 14.

This year's gala was called, in English, Honouring the Work Towards Aboriginal Justice.

Commanda is the 89-year-old Algonquin Elder from Kitigan Zibi, Que. who has contributed to the advancement of Aboriginal justice.

He participated in peace-building efforts and conferences in South Africa during the World Conference Against Racism. He offered prayers, presentations and guidance at conferences, powwows, workshops and meetings promoting better cross-cultural communications, and interracial harmony based on principles of love, respect, reconciliation and compassion.

Commanda is keeper of three Wampum Belts of historic importance: the Seven Fires Prophecy Belt about choice, the 1701 Peace Belt about sharing, and the 1793 Jay Treaty Border Treaty Belt about borderlessness. He was chief of the Kitigan Zibi reserve for more than 19 years, as well as a guide, trapper and woodsman, craftsman and a birchbark canoe-maker. He led the Sunbow Five Walk for Mother Earth, a seven-and-a-half month unity walk from the Atlantic to the Pacific oceans.

Commanda is the recipient of a Wolf Project Award and a Harmony Award for the creation of a Circle of All Nations gathering he hosts at his home in Maniwaki every August. He is now developing a vision to establish a healing and peace-building centre on Victoria Island, his ancestral spiritual meeting place.

Although the main purpose of the evening was to honor Commanda, the dinner also served as a fund-raising event for the university's legal clinic and Aboriginal legal services division, which provides low-income people with Aboriginal legal representation.